When asked about the defining moment of 2010 in Egypt, most people immediately think of the national team’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations. Yet, there was something else from that year that might even be considered just as iconic, or perhaps even more so for some: a panda. The panda was everywhere. Not in a literal sense, of course, but figuratively, thanks to a hugely popular commercial advertisement “Never Say No to Panda” that was released in 2010. The commercial flooded the internet, but not because of the panda’s cuteness or cuddliness, like the countless videos of cute animals that flood our feeds today. This panda went viral for the exact opposite reason — it was utterly unhinged. The term “unhinged” may have been trending in 2024, but the unhinged panda came long before it, well ahead of the cultural curve. It was one of the earliest viral sensations to capture that chaotic energy, and because of that reason, it still connects with Egyptians today. In fact, the panda even made a comeback with another commercial last year, proving that its unfiltered, unhinged character still holds a special…
