In 2022, non-music viral videos included emotional tributes, global pop culture moments, face reveals and personal stories from creators, and memetic clips from major events. These ranged from heartfelt goodbye messages from beloved influencers to unfiltered live event moments that spread widely across social platforms.
Technoblade – “so long nerds” (farewell tribute)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPMluEVUqS0
The farewell video posted on Technoblade’s channel by his father after the beloved Minecraft creator’s death went massively viral, becoming YouTube’s top trending video of 2022 and one of the most viewed overall. It blends gaming with deep emotional impact.
Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock – Oscars 2022 (uncensored clip)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjEoDypUD8
Footage of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards spread rapidly across YouTube and social platforms in 2022, becoming one of the most-shared non-music moments of the year as audiences reacted worldwide.
Dream hi, I’m Dream (face reveal announcement)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtpdMkKvB6U
In 2022, Dream released a highly anticipated video in which the popular Minecraft creator finally showed his face, generating huge interest and one of the most viewed non-music clips of the year.
MrBeast – I Built Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!
Original no longer on youtube.com/watch?v=YqrN-6c4VZ4
Alternative https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8led1k
MrBeast’s extravagant challenge video, building a real-life Willy Wonka chocolate factory for contestants, was one of 2022’s most watched and shared non-music posts, combining creativity with high-stakes entertainment.
The Try Guys – Breaking Down Channel Future Announcement
REMOVED FROM YOUTUBE
The Try Guys released a deeply personal video addressing their channel’s future and changes, earning widespread attention and strong viral reach among community-oriented viewers.
Alternative YouTube videos covering the same event NOT AVAILABLE
The original Try Guys video explaining Ned Fulmer’s exit disappeared from YouTube because it was tied to one of 2022’s biggest creator scandals. After news broke that Fulmer had engaged in a workplace relationship with a subordinate, the internet exploded — fans dissected old videos, timelines trended on Twitter, and the group released a serious, no-nonsense statement confirming his removal from the company. The video wasn’t comedy, wasn’t branded content — it was damage control in real time. Given the legal exposure, HR implications, and the brand’s effort to move forward without continually resurfacing the controversy, the statement was eventually made private. Like many viral apology or accountability videos, it burned hot, dominated the conversation, and then quietly vanished. Here’s a link to Entertainment Weekly’s Recap https://ew.com/celebrity/ned-fulmer-leaves-try-guys-after-workplace-affair/