Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2021-04-25/Traffic report
Traffic report
The verdict is guilty, guilty, guilty
- This traffic report is adapted from the Top 25 Report, prepared with commentary by Igordebraga (March 28 to April 24), Benmite, FunksBrother (March 28 to April 3), TheConflux (April 4 to 10), Kingsif (April 4 to 17), and SSSB (April 18 to 24).
Death, canal obstructions, crimes being punished, and whatever people are watching (be it movies, series, or outlandish music videos). Lots of subjects got popular to make us forget about how 4 months in, 2021 is still held down by the goddamned pandemic and other 2020 annoyances.
Oh no, there goes Tokyo, go go Godzilla (March 28 to April 3)
Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (March 28 to April 3, 2021)
Rank Article Class Views Image Notes/about 1 Godzilla vs. Kong 
2,857,080 
What sad days we're living in when one of those destruction-heavy blockbusters that should be watched on a big screen has to settle for what little theaters are open plus homes of HBO Max subscribers. (and too bad for those living in countries where either option isn't possible!) Anyways, the huge radioactive lizard from Japan and the giant gorilla from the US (who has a thing for blondes, though sadly there are none in this movie) end up duking it out in a movie that reviewers noted that for all its narrative shortcomings delivered on the flashy, fun monster fights. 2 Suez Canal
1,700,993 
The canal connecting the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea has been an important shipping route since its construction in the 19th century. Somebody got a really big boat stuck in the middle of it, costing the world economy billions of dollars for every day it was there. 3 Matt Gaetz 
1,325,750 
This congressman from Florida is having an interesting year. He defended the former President from his impeachment while criticizing Congresswoman and colleague Liz Cheney–going so far to holding a rally in her home state of Wyoming demanding that she must go through a primary. Now the representative is under investigation by the Justice Department on whether he misused campaign funds and engaged in sex trafficking according to a news article published by The New York Times on March 30th. His bizarre interview with Fox News television host Tucker Carlson that same night placed the blame on an extortionist, but also made Carlson look he was involved in his scandal too. Yikes... 4 Ever Given
1,044,559 
One of the largest ships in the world, a behemoth capable of carrying over 20,000 containers, and that despite not being too big for the Suez (#2), still got trapped in it for 6 days. 5 Lil Nas X
936,561 
Speak of the devil! Cowboy by day and glitchy Roblox avatar by night, the smaller Nas (X) took the world by storm this week with the release of his song "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)", the subtitle referencing a movie about two guys who become really good friends after enjoying a fun, family friendly summer together. If the song's lyrics, which make a compelling case for Adam and Steve, weren’t enough to have internet denizens in a fiery rage, then the video, which starts with a love scene between Lil Nas X and X Himself and ends with him throwing that Beelzebutt all over Beelzebub after some FKA twigs-inspired pole dancing, might have brought their blood to a boiling point. And just to fan the flames a bit more, the handsome devil put out a pair of custom Nike shoes called "Satan Shoes" designed by streetwear company MSCHF, each adorned with a pentagram and filled with a single drop of human blood.
Of course, the outrage machine kicked into overdrive like clockwork, and since idle hands are the devil's playthings, a bunch of people with nothing better to do developed a bad case of Twitter fingers as they called Lil Nas X out of his name and screamed "What about the children?!", a question that they answered themselves with the film Jesus Camp. Meanwhile, Nike filed a lawsuit and won a temporary restraining order against MSCHF to ban the further selling of Satan Shoes.
6 Deaths in 2021 
862,838 
So, what do we do with our lives?
We leave only a mark
Will our story shine like a light
Or end in the dark7 Zack Snyder's Justice League
791,426 
Fans are now griping #RestoreTheSnyderverse given the extended cut of Justice League was released, but Warner Bros. won't continue it. Well, they should focus on how the studio makes worse decisions regarding the DC Extended Universe than that - just because Darkseid appears in a half a dozen scenes of this 4 hour movie, Warner cancelled a promising New Gods movie that would feature the famed DC villain. 8 Tina Turner 
756,766 
HBO premiered Tina, a documentary about the career of the musical legend once known as Anna Mae Bullock. 9 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
714,705 
Marvel's spy thriller continues, bringing back many characters that barely appeared from the movies: the guy who triggered the Avengers Civil War, the niece of Captain America's one true love, one of those Wakandan bald warriors... 10 April Fools' Day 
655,869 
Unlike last year, the day where people like to lie earned an entry, as people try to slowly remember old joys. One of the jokes this year was The Guardian announcing a "Suez II" (#2) would be built.
X Gon' Give It to Ya (April 4 to 10)
Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (April 4 to 10, 2021)
Rank Article Class Views Image Notes/about 1 DMX (rapper)
6,191,810 
How sad that the rapper responsible for high-energy tracks such as "Party Up (Up in Here)" had a life that was far from uplifting. Dark Man X, born Earl Simmons, was repeatedly arrested, had to pay for 15 (!) child supports, filed three times for bankruptcy, and struggled with drug addiction, ultimately leading to an overdose that led to hospitalization, and one week in a vegetative state before dying of multiple organ failure at the age of 50. Due to the amount of news coverage his death received compared to #2, it's perhaps slightly surprising that he topped the list, though the margin between the top two finishers this week is under 10%, substantially smaller than usual.
2 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
5,683,996 
The British Royal Family appearing on this list and it's nothing to do with The Crown or Meghan? The Grand Old Duke of Edinburgh passed away on April 9, two months before his hundredth birthday. Born in Greece, in line to a few non-British royal families, Philip was the definition of duty for over 70 years; he put aside his naval career to become what one could unkindly term the world's most professional house-husband. He worked to make his wife's job as fruitful as possible while standing, literally, in her shadow for longer than most people are alive. Besides standing loyal to the crown, he was a keen pilot, equestrian, and patron of around 800 charities. He founded an award to encourage young people's personal development, completed by millions world-round, and perhaps represented one of the last truly British institutions. After stepping back in his old age, Philip spent his retirement at the family's Sandringham country estate but, to cut down on travel during pandemic lockdowns, returned to Windsor last year to keep the Queen company: consummate in his role to the end, this is where he died on Friday morning. We extend sympathy to all the people of the Commonwealth, all two-and-a-half billion of them touched (whether they like it or not) by Philip's endeavours to prevent the monarchy from becoming a practice in obsolescence by, among other things, embarking on countless (no, wait, over 22 thousand) official visits over the years. 3 Elizabeth II 
2,933,732 
4 Godzilla vs. Kong
1,510,445 
In North America, movie theaters reopened on April 2. But this most recent installation of titans fighting was released digitally several days earlier and still attracted in-person, socially-distanced, crowds, showing the film industry to be alive and healthy after its little pandemic coma. 5 Charles Sobhraj
1,475,005 
Sobhraj is a French serial killer recently profiled in a Netflix series (#20), in which he is portrayed by Tahar Rahim (pictured). 6 Charles, Prince of Wales
1,152,916 
So this is him? Eldest son Charlie decided to forgo "stay local" pandemic orders to drive from ... somewhere in England ... to his parents' castle on the day his father (#2) died. He's now inherited the title Duke of Edinburgh, while brother Edward (#18) takes over the recently-deceased Duke's appointments. 7 Deaths in 2021
1,025,689 
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.8 Ernest Hemingway
1,018,728 
Ken Burns made a PBS mini-series about the writer's life that aired across three nights this week, Hemingway. 9 Paul Ritter (actor) 
941,048 The British have beloved character actors, too, and this one recently died. Possibly best-known for TV roles in Friday Night Dinner, Cold Feet and Chernobyl (which thankfully hasn't come back for a 1000th week or something on this list), he was also a Tony- and Olivier- nominated stage actor. 10 WrestleMania 37
810,868 I always wonder why wrestling articles get so many views...
The love that makes undaunted, the final sacrifice (April 11 to 17)
Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (April 11 to 17, 2021)
Rank Article Class Views Image Notes/about 1 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
2,703,385
While sometimes an insensitive figure (John Oliver joked Philip's death was "a tragedy if you don’t know a single thing about him", and had more words across the week), the Royal consort continues to get views following his death, specially as his military funeral was only held Saturday. And without a person who was already losing his life hanging around and getting more views (#5), this time Philip has the top spot. 2 Helen McCrory
2,566,138 
One more British death, a Shakespearean actress who probably earned most mainstream recognition as Draco Malfoy's mother in Harry Potter (but also appeared in films such as Skyfall and Hugo, plus television work like Peaky Blinders), McCrory pulled a Chadwick, keeping her cancer diagnosis a secret to all but few and leaving her husband (#7) to reveal it after her death this week at the age of 52. 3 Elizabeth II
2,257,107
Her Majesty, widow of #1 and who always seems to find a way to return to this Report. In life, Philip was always two steps behind her, while now she fits in two places behind him. 4 WrestleMania 37
1,705,807 
Professional wrestling's biggest event happened on 10-11 April in Tampa, this time even with an audience again as 25,675 attended each night at the Raymond James Stadium. 5 DMX (rapper)
1,465,080
The other famous person who died the same day of #1, a rapper who even inspired tributes from the film industry given DMX acted in a few action movies opposite Jet Li and Steven Seagal. 6 Vivek (actor)
1,189,676 
Kollywood lost a very prolific actor/comedian, who upon his death at the age of 59 had worked in over 220 movies. 7 Damian Lewis
1,189,217 
The husband of #2 and father of her two children, a fellow actor better known for starring in TV shows such as Band of Brothers, Homeland, and Billions. 8 Brenda Song
1,132,820 
One of the many actresses who rose to fame through the Disney Channel announced the birth of her son, whose father is a former child star himself - Macaulay Culkin, whose late sister Dakota was homaged in the child's name. Her placement on the list suggests her fame isn't waning, despite the fact nobody knew she was pregnant. 9 Charles Sobhraj
1,124,116 
Two people with the same first name, but very different backgrounds and reputations: one is an Asian serial killer who Netflix viewers are knowing through The Serpent (pictured is his portrayer there), and the other is a European aristocrat who is #1's oldest son (and thus the first in the line to succeed #3). 10 Charles, Prince of Wales
1,105,231
Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of the Week (April 18 to 24, 2021)
Guilty verdict (April 18 to 24)
Rank Article Class Views Image Notes/about 1 Derek Chauvin
2,226,944 
This disgraced policeman denied the charges of murder and manslaughter that resulted from him kneeling on George Floyd's neck until he asphyxiated. Everyone involved in his trial thought otherwise, and Chauvin was found guilty, with perhaps 40 years in prison up ahead for him. 2 Mortal Kombat (2021 film)
1,971,882 
The ultraviolent fighting game series again is adapted for the big screen (though in the US, HBO Max subscribers can also watch it), and while getting mixed reviews is deemed Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger than the previous attempt. 3 Elizabeth II
1.517.803 
"Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl
But she changes from day to day..."4 European Super League
1,382,232 
12 of the biggest football teams from England, Spain and Italy tried to form a league of their own. Backlash quickly ensued from fans and organizing bodies who deemed it a "power grab" for more money and control over the sport, and the idea was cancelled after just three days. JP Morgan even had to apologise for funding it. 5 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
1,144,490 
Sam Wilson has finally evolved from Falcon to Captain America (also known as "Flaptain", given "Captain Falcon" brings up fiery punches to mind), while one returning character seems to show her actress can't let go of some other role she played. 6 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
1,064,047 
Presumably, Buckingham Palace spent the last days of the Royal consort in a reenactment of Good Bye, Lenin!, afraid that Phillip would die from shock if he heard about the Meghan Markle interview. 7 Deaths in 2021
991,488 
It's a Dead Man's Party
Who could ask for more?
Everybody's coming
Leave your body at the door!8 Helen McCrory
789,343
Narcissa Malfoy won ten awards in her career, and was nominated a further 23 times across stage and screen and a 29-year career. People continue to visit her article a week after her death from cancer, aged just 52. 9 George Floyd
788,420 
#1's victim. The protests have re-ignited with the trial, of course. 10 Charles Sobhraj
773,715 
Sobhraj continues to rank highly after a BBC One TV series dramatising his crimes and capture, The Serpent, started streaming on Netflix. The show's name is based on one of his nicknames, a wise decision by the BBC not to name it after another nickname. "The Bikini Killer"? Not quite the same effect.
Exclusions
- These lists exclude the Wikipedia main page, non-article pages (such as redlinks), and anomalous entries (such as DDoS attacks or likely automated views). Since mobile view data became available to the Report in October 2014, we exclude articles that have almost no mobile views (5–6% or less) or almost all mobile views (94–95% or more) because they are very likely to be automated views based on our experience and research of the issue. Please feel free to discuss any removal on the Top 25 Report talk page if you wish.
Discuss this story
I find it interesting how there's often more traffic to pages for people involved in notable events (e.g. Derek Chauvin, George Floyd) than the events themselves (e.g. State v. Chauvin, Murder of George Floyd). I suspect the issue is something to do with the way people Google things or the way Google ranks results, but I don't really know what we could do about it. It's an issue, though, because people seemingly aren't finding their way to the most relevant information. {{u|Sdkb}} talk 22:39, 25 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Do you have a reliable source for the claim that Charles, Prince of Wales has inherited the title Duke of Edinburgh? I have a source (Whitaker's Almanack 2013, p.40) that says "In June 1999 Buckingham Palace announced that the current Earl of Wessex will be granted the Dukedom of Edinburgh when the title reverts to the Crown." Which it hasn't, yet. Charles is already a duke twice over (Cornwall, Rothesay) and doesn't need another dukedom. Philip Trueman (talk) 08:09, 26 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]