These were the biggest celebrity news stories of 2022

2022 has been quite the year, and from the infamous Oscars Slap to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry releasing their docuseries; a lot has happened, and there truly never was a dull moment. Here is a quick look at this year's biggest celebrity news stories. 

Bob Saget's passing

2022 opened with some unfortunate news for the fans of the actor Bob Saget. The Grammy-nominated actor passed away at age 65, causing an outpour of grief from friends, family and fans. 

The Oscar Slap

Still resonating through the internet is the Oscar Slap, and many of us never really got over it. When Will Smith walked up on stage and slapped Chris Rock, it was a moment that overshadowed all else that happened during the ceremony and marred Will Smith's reputation for the rest of the year. 

Kim K wears Marylin Monroe's Dress

Kim Kardashian dazzled at the MET Gala this year in a sparkly nude number which happens to be an actual piece of history - Marilyn Monroe's dress! Other than "It belongs in a museum!" being a prominent reaction, Kim also had to lose a drastic amount of weight in order to fit into the dress. This, too, caused quite a stir. 

Riri becomes a mom

The world rejoiced when Rihanna and A$AP Rocky announced they were expecting their first child! The baby boy was born on May 13, 2022, and the internet has been patiently waiting for some baby content. Though the couple is yet to announce his name, the little guy has already stolen the hearts of many already! In a recent TikTok video, Rihanna shared a glimpse of the little one giggling, and that cuteness overload resulted in millions of views! 

Lea Michele's Funny Girl

If you've watched Glee, you already know how much actress Lea Michele wanted to be on Broadway's Funny Girl. Some might even say she was born for the role! She was the star of Glee's Funny Girl, but this year her dream of playing the part on Broadway came true as she headlined the show and led it to box office history! To top it all, she also received a letter from Barbra Streisand saying, "It's really wonderful when your dreams come true, isn't it?"

Bennifer

Actress, singer and icon Jennifer Lopez tied the knot with her long-time love Ben Affleck! The couple eloped back in July but then walked down the aisle again and married in August in a stunning wedding ceremony. 

Beyonce's Renaissance

Beyonce dropping a new album is always a big deal, and Renaissance was no exception! Several songs went viral on social media, starting with "Cuff" being the album's fastest song to go viral on TikTok. The album went on to become one of the biggest releases of the year!

Don't Worry Darling Drama

Remember "Spitgate"? That was when the internet thought Harry Styles had spit on Chris Pine during the Venice Film Festival Premier of the movie Don't Worry Darling. There had been drama brewing on the horizon for months around the film, but it really came to light during the Venice Film Festival. It gave rise to countless memes and tons of discussion. 

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's Trial

After six gruelling months in a courthouse in Virginia on a very high-profile defamation trial, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard finally received their verdict. Both parties were found liable, and the judge ruled in Depp's favour awarding him $10 million and Amber $2 million. But not everything is entirely wrapped up yet, and the stories are still making their rounds online. 

The Queen's Passing

The passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II marked the end of an era. Months after celebrating her platinum jubilee and after more than 70 years of service to the crown, the 96-year-old monarch passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle. Celebrities and dignitaries from all over the world attended the late queen's funeral, and the ceremony broadcasted worldwide. King Charles III succeeded his mother as the next monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. 

Elon Musk buys Twitter

To add another plot twist to an already very exciting year, tech billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter to add to his "grander vision" of creating a super-app for the Western Markets. Musk's acquisition of Twitter resulted in a ton of controversies, and many famous users have chosen to leave the platform since the takeover.

Aaron Carter's passing

The world lost another star with the untimely death of Aaron Carter. Carter was only 34 when he passed and was found in his home in California. The news of his passing shocked fans and left many unanswered questions and pain for family and fans alike. In an interview with PageSix, Carter's manager commented on how he was in the days before his passing and said that he looked tired and thin, like he needed rest and care. 

KimYe divorce

The year started with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West working toward divorce. But amid all the anti-Semitic rants and Ye losing his brand partnerships as well as his Twitter account (which is now back courtesy of Elon Musk), Kim and Ye finalized their divorce in November. Kim was given custody of their children 80% of the time and monthly child support of $200,000. 

Swifties broke Ticketmaster

Taylor Swift announced her Eras tour, and the Swifties went wild! Fans registered for presale tickets but struggled with glitches while trying to purchase tickets during the presale. The ticket demand was so high that the general ticket sales had to be cancelled after Ticketmaster sold out the venues during the presale. This not only resulted in a very disappointed Taylor and upset Swifties but also led to a lawsuit! Oh, and by the way, it was later revealed that the demand for Taylor Swift's tour tickets could have filled up 900 stadiums!  

Migos Takeoff's passing

Many woke up to the news of the sudden passing of Migos rapper Takeoff. He was shot in the early hours of Tuesday, November 1st, and was only 28 years old when he died. The resounding loss was felt by fans, friends and everyone who had been part of his life. 

Pete Davidson and his girls

Pete Davidson has long been known for all the stunning women he has dated, but 2022 took things to another level. The comedian was linked to Kim Kardashian in 2021 when they kissed on SNL and officially began dating in November of last year. The pair split up in August this year, and Davidson reportedly began dating Emily Ratajkowski in November. Many question what women see in Pete, but those who have dated him say that he has a very good heart, is funny and is a very sweet. 

Meghan and Harry docuseries premiers

When it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 2022 was a year of changes and revelations. In February, Buckingham Palace issued the official statement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, had confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they would not be returning as working members of The Royal Family. They had made this decision to try "to carve out a more progressive role within this institution". The couple made headlines when they talked about their royal experiences on Oprah and released a much anticipated Netflix Docuseries, which has taken the world by storm. 

And those are just a few of the celebrity news stories that made it big this year! Catch Etalk Presents: A Toast to 2022 for more top celebrity news stories of this year!