Out of the thousands of viral stories that the Coconuts Media network published in 2015, these were the ten most read. Collectively they racked up millions of pageviews and were shared hundreds of thousands of times. Ranging from rage-inspiring tales of deplorable behavior to inspiring stories of individuals standing strong in the face of adversity (and of course lots of things that just made us all say “WTF?!?”), these are the Coconuts stories that broke the Internet this year.
10. Foul Play: Leicester City footballers engage in racist orgy in Bangkok (Coconuts Bangkok)
A leaked video of three Leicester City English footballers participating in an orgy with Thai women in Bangkok sounds bad enough, but the fact that they can be heard making disgusting racist remarks throughout the incendiary video was easily enough to get the three players from the Thai-owned team sacked with extreme prejudice.
9. Lee Kuan Yew once uncovered a CIA plot, turned down a $3.3m bribe and embarrassed the US (Coconuts Singapore)
Published in the wake of Lee Kuan Yew’s death, this recently unearthed tale of Singapore’s founding father taking on the United States in the 1960s struck a huge chord with Singaporeans.
8. Indonesian Police ask public to help prevent the sale of kids clothes covered in pandas having sex (Coconuts Jakarta)
The Indonesian police take the threat of panda sex kids clothes very seriously. We do too. if you find that there are any depictions of animal lovemaking on your children’s clothes, please contact your local police station immediately.
7. Auto Erotic: Man sexually assaults a Porsche in Thailand (Coconuts Bangkok)
The headline pretty much says it all. Warning: You can’t unsee this. Ever.
6. Viral: Man tricks Jollibee delivery guy into being late to get PHP200 voucher (Coconuts Manila)
A guy deliberately tricked a low-paid fast food delivery guy so he could get PHP200 (USD 4.50) off his bill. And then he had the gall to brag about it online. Hope it was worth it – this crazy viral story made “Jay Bee” into one of the most hated people on Filipino social media in 2015.
5. Serious real estate ad in Indonesia: “Buy this house, marry the owner” (Coconuts Jakarta)
When a listing for a house in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, appeared on a real estate website with the headline “RUMAH DIJUAL: Beli Rumah Bisa Ajak Pemiliknya Menikah” (“HOUSE FOR SALE: Buy the house and you may marry the owner”) many people assumed it was a joke. But the house’s owner, a widow named Wina Lia, was completely serious. Her story went viral around the world and she was inundated with offers from suitors from around the world, but it was only in November that Wina’s story finally had a happy ending.
4. Hi, haters: “Rich Kids of Malaysia” is the Instagram account of the 1% (Coconuts Kuala Lumpur)
Rich Kids of Malaysia is an IG account detailing the lives and antics of the country’s young and spoiled, from trips to Prague, to a quick shopping trip to get re-upped on the new LV collection, to taking a spin in the Hummvee … right before jumping into the Learjet.
3. Scientists prove vampire squirrels of Borneo have fluffiest tails in the world (Coconuts Jakarta)
The vampire squirrels of Borneo may just be the most terrifying, and fluffy, creatures on Earth. Local Dayak hunters say the squirrels will jump out of trees and rip out the throats of small deer before feasting on their organs. Scientists have been unable to proof the elusive squirrel’s ferocious feeding technique, but they have captured photos that prove that they do have the fluffiest tales of any mammal on Earth. (How awesome is science?)
2. Meet Mui Thomas, a Hong Kong rugby referee with a rare skin condition who hopes to inspire others (Coconuts Hong Kong)
Our profile and video feature on Mui Thomas, a young woman in Hong Kong with an incredibly rare skin condition and a kickass attitude, touched people all over the world. Despite having faced a lifetime of prejudice, Mui’s spirit is indomitable and her quest to become an international level rugby coach is truly inspiring.
1. Karen Davila interviewed Alma Moreno…and it got awkward (Coconuts Manila)
Talk show host Karen Davila’s incredibly uncomfortable interview with senatorial hopeful Alma Moreno, in which Davila’s basic questions severely flustered the actress-turned-politician, became one of the most incredibly cringe-worthy moments of the year in the Philippines, and our most viral post ever.
