'Senator, I’m Singaporean': The viral Singapore moments that took the internet by storm

In recent years, Singapore has gained international recognition through its viral memes and moments. During National Day, CNA Lifestyle highlighted several of these internet sensations. In 2024, TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi testified before the US Congress on the dangers of social media for children. Senating repeatedly questioning Chew about his citizenship, even if he was a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Chew, a proud Singaporean, confidently declared, "Senator, I'm Singaporean." This declaration went viral, becoming a popular response to accusations of deception. Singaporean model Chuando Tan has also become a viral sensation due to his age-defying appearance. In March 2026, Tan uploaded photos of himself with balloons reading "60," sparking disbelief and amassing over three million likes.

The video also garnered praise from celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Vera Brezhneva. Meanwhile, the advisory on love scams by the Hougang Neighbourhood Police Centre (now Serangoon Neighbourhood Police Centre) went viral worldwide. The video featuring ASP Benjamin Cheah, known for his good looks, garnered over eight million views on Instagram and even inspired recreations overseas.

The longest-running television programme in Singapore, Crimewatch, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. The crime docu-drama series has become a goldmine for memes, with two particular clips becoming TikTok legends. The first clip, showing a victim's panicked face after a theft, has been used as audio in videos exaggerating moments of disbelief.

The second clip features two teenagers arguing, with one shouting, "You're nothing but a prostitute." The audio of this line is now a staple on TikTok, used humorously to mock other users. In 2014, Singaporean audio company Creative Technology inadvertently created one of the internet's earliest viral videos. While demonstrating their Prodikeys keyboard, employee Paul Seow launched into an unexpected drum solo during the product demonstration.

The video eventually became a global sensation, even being sampled in Frank Ocean's song "Super Rich Kids." Lastly, the iconic clip of Michael Jackson lowering a soldier's rifle during his performance of "Earth Song" has become one of the most enduring reaction GIFs on the internet. Its Singaporean origin is evident, with the Mediacorp Channel 5 logo at the top right corner of the video.