Frozen jeans, “smartphone pinky,” and drunk cartoons. Here’s what was in the news 10 years ago this week.
Freezing Jeans Trend
In 2016, people were literally freezing their pants – wetting jeans, propping them up outside, and letting frigid temps sculpt denim statues on sidewalks. It was the Internet at its weirdest: part laundry hack, part art project, and mostly just a great way to confuse your neighbors.
Eagles Co-Founder Glenn Frey Passes Away
The music world lost a legend in January 2016 when Glenn Frey of the Eagles passed away at 67. As a founding member, he helped define the sound of classic rock. Suddenly, “Take It Easy” and “Desperado” hit a little harder.
Zac Efron’s MLK Tweet Apology
Zac Efron got dragged in 2016 for turning MLK Day into a weird flex about his social media follower count: “I’m grateful for a couple things today: Martin Luther King Jr., and 10 million followers.”After the backlash, he quickly apologized—reminding us that no matter how handsome you are, sometimes it’s best to just log off and say nothing.
Smartphone Pinky
A new affliction emerged in 2016: “Smartphone Pinky.” People claimed their pinky fingers were becoming dented and deformed from holding giant phones. Was it science? Was it TikTok-level drama? Either way, our grip strength and self-esteem haven’t been the same since.
Will & Jada Boycott the Oscars
The 2016 Oscars faced major heat over a lack of diversity, prompting Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to publicly boycott the ceremony. It sparked the #OscarsSoWhite movement and lit a fire under Hollywood’s long-overdue diversity conversation – six years before the Chris Rock slap took over the narrative.
Jamie Foxx Saves a Guy from a Burning Truck
In a real-life action scene, Jamie Foxx pulled a man from a burning truck near his home in 2016. No stunt double, no script – just Jamie being a literal hero.
Squidward Gets a DUI
Rodger Bumpass, the voice of Squidward from SpongeBob, was arrested for DUI in Burbank, California. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the underwater clarinet survived another day. Nickelodeon decided not to fire him for it.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler Reveals 15-Year M.S. Battle
In 2016, Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler revealed she’d secretly been battling multiple sclerosis for 15 years. Fans were stunned – she’d kept it quiet through red carpets, roles, and press tours. Her honesty shed light on invisible illness and proved she was tougher than any mob princess.
Buddhist Monk Slashes Tires Over Dead Bug
A Buddhist monk in Thailand slashed nearly 200 car tires… because he accidentally killed a bug and couldn’t handle the karma. It was a spiritual crisis turned slash-happy meltdown, proving even monks have their breaking point.
Chocolate on Fries at McDonald’s
McDonald’s Japan debuted “McChoco Potatoes” – fries drizzled with white and milk chocolate. Americans looked on, half horrified, half hungry, wondering when our fries would get the dessert treatment. (Spoiler alert: That day never came.)