From Kendrick Lamar to Cookie Crime Scenes: Webby Awards Get Wild

Mia Reynolds, 4/2/2025Explore the wild and varied landscape of the 2025 Webby Awards, showcasing quirky nominees from peanut butter crime scenes to Kendrick Lamar's music video. Discover how digital creativity transcends traditional boundaries, with a mix of media giants and unexpected content vying for recognition.

The Digital Renaissance: 2025's Webby Awards Showcase Internet's Wild Side

Remember when the internet was just cat videos and chain emails? Those days feel like ancient history now, especially after seeing this year's absolutely wild lineup of Webby Award nominees. The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences just dropped their latest nominations, and honestly? It's a beautiful mess of everything that makes the internet fascinating in 2025.

Out of nearly 13,000 entries from more than 70 countries, some standouts are genuinely making people do a double-take. Take Nutter Butter, for instance — yes, that cookie brand your grandma probably loves. They've somehow managed to score two Webby nominations for what can only be described as digital chaos involving... a peanut butter crime scene? On TikTok, of all places. (And it actually works?)

The music category is serving up some serious drama this year. Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" is going head-to-head with heavy hitters like Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga. But here's where it gets interesting — Will Ferrell, Nick Jonas, and Jimmy Fallon created this absolutely bonkers music video about jorts (complete with questionable mullets) that's competing against Gracie Abrams' soul-stirring "The Secret of Us." Because apparently, that's just where we are as a society now.

Speaking of unexpected matchups, the podcast world keeps evolving in fascinating ways. The Kelce brothers' "New Heights" is back for another shot at glory after last year's double win. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña's thoughtful chat on Netflix's "Skip Intro" about her role in "Emilia Pérez" is getting well-deserved recognition.

The media giants aren't sitting this one out, either. NBCUniversal is leading the pack with 24 nominations — not too shabby. MTV Entertainment Studios grabbed 18, while CNN and National Geographic are neck-and-neck with 16 each. PBS, Disney, and The Washington Post aren't far behind with 14 nominations apiece. Looks like the old guard's still got some tricks up their sleeves.

But let's talk about what's really fascinating here — the sheer range of what counts as award-worthy content in 2025. You've got Duolingo's oddly murderous mascot doing a parody of "The Bear" (which, let's be honest, we're all still slightly disturbed by). Then there's Matthew McConaughey's conspiracy-theory-laden Super Bowl spot for Uber Eats that somehow managed to be both confusing and brilliant.

The comedy category? That's where things get really interesting. The "SmartLess" crew — Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes — are duking it out with fan favorites like "Office Ladies" and current champs "Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang." No clear frontrunner here, folks.

Want to have your say? The Webby People's Voice Award voting is open until April 17, with winners announced April 22. Mark your calendars for May 12, when Ilana Glazer hosts what's sure to be an... interesting ceremony, to say the least.

Perhaps the most telling aspect of this year's nominations is how they reflect our increasingly bizarre digital world — one where Donald Duck eating spicy wings on "Hot Ones" can share the spotlight with Generation Alpha phenomena like Skibidi Toilet. The traditional boundaries of entertainment aren't just blurring anymore; they're completely dissolving.

The academy's membership — featuring powerhouses like Quinta Brunson, Desiree Perez of Roc Nation, and NFL star Shannon Sharpe — seems to get it. Their selections suggest they're not just looking for innovation; they're celebrating the genuine, the weird, and everything in between that makes the internet... well, the internet.

Welcome to 2025's digital landscape, folks. It's messy, it's beautiful, and it's absolutely impossible to predict what's coming next.

The Digital Renaissance: 2025's Webby Awards Showcase Internet's Wild SideRemember when the internet was just cat videos and chain emails? Those days feel like ancient history now, especially after seeing this year's absolutely wild lineup of Webby Award nominees. The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences just dropped their latest nominations, and honestly? It's a beautiful mess of everything that makes the internet fascinating in 2025.Out of nearly 13,000 entries from more than 70 countries, some standouts are genuinely making people do a double-take. Take Nutter Butter, for instance — yes, that cookie brand your grandma probably loves. They've somehow managed to score two Webby nominations for what can only be described as digital chaos involving... a peanut butter crime scene? On TikTok, of all places. (And it actually works?)The music category is serving up some serious drama this year. Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" is going head-to-head with heavy hitters like Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga. But here's where it gets interesting — Will Ferrell, Nick Jonas, and Jimmy Fallon created this absolutely bonkers music video about jorts (complete with questionable mullets) that's competing against Gracie Abrams' soul-stirring "The Secret of Us." Because apparently, that's just where we are as a society now.Speaking of unexpected matchups, the podcast world keeps evolving in fascinating ways. The Kelce brothers' "New Heights" is back for another shot at glory after last year's double win. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña's thoughtful chat on Netflix's "Skip Intro" about her role in "Emilia Pérez" is getting well-deserved recognition.The media giants aren't sitting this one out, either. NBCUniversal is leading the pack with 24 nominations — not too shabby. MTV Entertainment Studios grabbed 18, while CNN and National Geographic are neck-and-neck with 16 each. PBS, Disney, and The Washington Post aren't far behind with 14 nominations apiece. Looks like the old guard's still got some tricks up their sleeves.But let's talk about what's really fascinating here — the sheer range of what counts as award-worthy content in 2025. You've got Duolingo's oddly murderous mascot doing a parody of "The Bear" (which, let's be honest, we're all still slightly disturbed by). Then there's Matthew McConaughey's conspiracy-theory-laden Super Bowl spot for Uber Eats that somehow managed to be both confusing and brilliant.The comedy category? That's where things get really interesting. The "SmartLess" crew — Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes — are duking it out with fan favorites like "Office Ladies" and current champs "Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang." No clear frontrunner here, folks.Want to have your say? The Webby People's Voice Award voting is open until April 17, with winners announced April 22. Mark your calendars for May 12, when Ilana Glazer hosts what's sure to be an... interesting ceremony, to say the least.Perhaps the most telling aspect of this year's nominations is how they reflect our increasingly bizarre digital world — one where Donald Duck eating spicy wings on "Hot Ones" can share the spotlight with Generation Alpha phenomena like Skibidi Toilet. The traditional boundaries of entertainment aren't just blurring anymore; they're completely dissolving.The academy's membership — featuring powerhouses like Quinta Brunson, Desiree Perez of Roc Nation, and NFL star Shannon Sharpe — seems to get it. Their selections suggest they're not just looking for innovation; they're celebrating the genuine, the weird, and everything in between that makes the internet... well, the internet.Welcome to 2025's digital landscape, folks. It's messy, it's beautiful, and it's absolutely impossible to predict what's coming next.