Members of Generation Y, also known as the Millennial Generation, have made a name for themselves as entitled and out of touch, thanks in large part to helicopter parenting. This past year brought out some of the worst of this kind of behavior. From campus protestors to donut lickers, those between the ages of 18-34 definitely left their mark on 2015.
Here are eight of the year’s worst millennials.
8. Glitter-Bearded Hipsters
Glitter facial hair anyone? Beard art is a thing and it’s amazing http://t.co/P7VhKyCixf pic.twitter.com/ZLqkFiWVKN
— HuffPostUKStyle (@HuffPostUKStyle) July 20, 2015
This trend emerged from hell just before the holidays and at the tail end of No-Shave November. If overgrown facial hair functioning as a Thanksgiving gravy trap wasn’t enough to send holiday love interests running in the opposite direction, adding glitter to the mix would certainly do the trick.
Millennials took this facial hair development very seriously. Some adopted extreme adhesive measures to ensure the glitter would stay in place, like this poor man, whose shower struggle is all too real.
Having mild #GlitterBeard regrets. #ItWontBudge #GlitterEverywhere #BEARDDAZZLE Go Watch #HomeMovie @DWAnim… https://t.co/0rHlUehkCy
— #NiGEL #W #TiERNEY (@NigelTierney) March 28, 2015
Note to self: facial hair and craft supplies do not mix.
7. Miley Cyrus
From her uncomfortable comments about Kim Kardashian’s nipples while hosting MTV’s Video Music Awards to her annoying habit of licking everything, Miley deserves to make this list. To be fair, she is actually really talented, but this year, she couldn’t seem to be able to spend her time on worthwhile projects.
In her newest album, “Her Dead Petz,” which she released for free in August, one song in particular (“Karen Don’t Be Sad”) is a standout from the rest. However, the rest of the tracks were so abysmal that the album overall was more of a reminder that she is squandering her abilities on oddball projects.
She also advocated for that disgusting armpit hair trend, which became a nonsensical feminist battle cry during this past summer, fueling another episode of millennial outrage and faux social justice.
6. Drake
“Hotline Bling” is arguably the most annoyingly catchy song ever. I’ve woken up with it stuck in my head for 45 days straight, and I don’t even hate it yet. But aside from this song’s ability to worm its way into your brain and stay there, Drake looks like a total dad in the music video.
From his stiff and confusing dance moves to his apparel, which caused The New York Times to opine about the merits of turtlenecks for a hot second, Drake seems to be trying to get in on the joke that he’s widely regarded as uncool. But he takes it way too far.
We’re glad you can be self-aware sometimes, Drake, but let’s not overdo it.
5. Ariana Grande
Remember Ariana Grande’s donut-licking antics in which she proclaimed that she hates Americans? Yeah, that wasn’t so cool. Her apology proclaiming herself to be “an advocate for healthy eating” who was just looking out for the well-being of fat kids made the whole thing so much worse.
Perhaps the worst part of her apology was how brilliantly millennial it was. Get caught doing something bad, then just pretend that you were doing it for a cause like childhood obesity, and everyone will forgive you. Hopefully Ariana will keep her tongue away from donuts in 2016.
4. Affluenza Teen
After killing four people and injuring nine others in a drunken driving accident, Ethan Couch’s defense attorneys argued that he shouldn’t have to go to jail for his actions because his privileged upbringing kept him from discerning right from wrong.
A judge actually bought this defense, and handed out a 10-year probation instead of jail time. This apparently wasn’t light enough of a sentence for the 18-year-old and his mother, as the two took off to Mexico in an attempt to flee from his punishment. They were apprehended on Monday and will be extradited to the United States, where they will face additional punishment.
Couch’s story is perhaps the ultimate example of helicopter parenting endemic of millennial upbringing. Instead of allowing him to face the consequences of his deadly actions, his parents tried to keep him out of jail.
3. Pharma Bro
Martin Shkreli gained notoriety when his pharmaceutical company raised the price of a life-saving HIV drug from $13.50 to a whopping $750. He added fuel to the public’s ire when he dropped $2 million on a limited-edition Wu-Tang Clan album, becoming the only person in the world to have it.
As it turns out, gouging HIV patients wasn’t Shkreli’s only questionable scheme. He was arrested earlier this month when the Department of Justice found out that Shkreli had allegedly managed his past pharmaceutical companies like a Ponzi scheme, defrauding investors of millions. Oops.
2. The Campus Protestors
This year, college students across the United States rose up in protest all things offensive. They demanded that school officials police their speech in order to dissuade students from saying things that might be perceived as offensive. They even fought to ban “offensive” Halloween costumes and cafeteria foods in order to keep campuses a safe space.
If this wasn’t ridiculous enough, some student protestors complained about the Paris attacks because it stole the media spotlight away from their demands. Because making sure that there’s enough fried chicken certainly deserves more attention than the 130 people who lost their lives in one of the most brutal terror attacks ever.
1. Bowe Bergdahl
Bowe Bergdahl, the Army deserter and former Taliban prisoner, perfectly exemplifies why everyone hates millennials.
In this season of the podcast “Serial,” Bergdahl explained that he ran from his post because of a grievance he had with his commanding officer. He knew that his disappearance would set off an alarm, and that afterwards he would be able to get an audience with a higher-up official, to whom he could complain about his commanding officer.
After he left the base, Bergdahl realized that he was in serious trouble and decided to go looking for hidden explosive devices, information he thought could spare him some punishment upon his return. He also figured it would make him look like a “super soldier” akin to fictional movie character Jason Bourne.
His plan is the most millennial thing ever. To think one’s personal complaints are more important than a war is the type of self-important behavior we can come to expect from Generation Y. I mean, pretending to fight for a quasi-social-justice issue to cover your stupidity, with the added benefit of looking like Jason Bourne? It’s the ultimate millennial win-win.
So 2015 wasn’t a great year for millennials, but perhaps after a little self-reflection — or a swift kick in the rear — young adults will get it together and act like self-aware grownups in 2016.
