These Before-and-After Memes Encapsulate 2016 Perfectly
It’s been a roller coaster of a year. Way too many beloved legends were taken from us — Prince, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Harper Lee, Muhammad Ali, Janet Reno, Leonard Cohen, Gene Wilder, and John Glenn among them. Brexit shook up the European Union. The Zika virus emerged. Donald Trump was elected president of the United States.
Many people on social media are ready for 2016 to be over. Hence, the birth of a new meme that compares their upbeat state when they entered the year with their current state of shambles: “Me at the beginning of 2016 vs. me at the end of 2016.” Variations on the meme have us in stitches because they just capture this year so perfectly. Take a look at some of our favorite not-so-flattering before-and-afters — because sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying. Or laugh until you cry; either way.
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This before-and-after of a glam Winona Ryder in her ’90s “it” girl heyday next to a disheveled Winona barely hanging on to a cigarette from the end of Heathers is all of us in 2016.
Me at the beginning of 2016; me at the end of 2016. pic.twitter.com/h1uHkFW2zm
— Rachel Vorona Cote (@RVoronaCote) December 9, 2016
This one of a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Mindy Kaling vs. a wiped-out Kaling had even the star herself LOLing.
me at the beginning of 2016 vs me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/Pwz1OnMZsI
— Gabe Bergado (@gabebergado) December 9, 2016
@gabebergado your INFLUENCE! pic.twitter.com/MET1nJbR4V
— Katherine Mirani (@KatherineMirani) December 9, 2016
A degenerate Minnie Mouse, you say? Yep, 2016 in a nutshell, basically.
Me at the beginning of 2016 VS. me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/JswaNSwRLI
— Sincerely Tumblr (@SincerelyTumblr) December 11, 2016
This year has not been cute.
me at the beginning of 2016 vs me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/jdqoY6OiPg
— güd boi (@loftycries) November 27, 2016
The year 2016 has officially reached The Revenant status.
me at the beginning of 2016 vs me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/ibgfV2JYHd
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) December 9, 2016
It’s not easy being … a human in 2016. Or a frog.
me at the beginning of 2016 vs me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/yT6wvdJ1eF
— Brendan Bergen (@carpetislava) December 9, 2016
Some may say the Dark Side won this year.
me at the beginning of 2016 vs me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/PC40ZOu5ba
— Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) December 8, 2016
Perhaps the only thing that could have made 2016 worse would have been deciding to become a meth kingpin in order to pay your medical bills, self-destructing, and ruining your entire family and the life of a young thug/former student in the process.
2016 is the danger.
Me at the beginning of 2016 vs Me now pic.twitter.com/MWkDWFVx7m
— Sam Grittner (@SamGrittner) December 9, 2016
Hey, 2016: What did we ever do to you?!
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