New Year’s Eve is usually a night for celebrities to headline packed concerts in Times Square and attend big parties. The pandemic, however, forced these fun-loving celebrities to spend the final hours of 2021 much differently. Even with a ban on crowds and social distancing orders in place, many celebrities still managed to improvise with safe celebrations — and some still performed for the New Year’s Eve ball drop celebration in NYC’s Times Square (not with the usual spectators, of course). Check out how the stars counted down to midnight and left this hard year behind:
Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin
Justin Bieber, 26, and Hailey Baldwin, 24, spent their New Year’s Eve indoors — but still looked incredibly glam! The Canadian hitmaker shared a carousel post of him and his supermodel wife posing in formal wear while poking their tongues out at each other. Hailey rocked a black strapless gown with layered gold necklaces and her hair slicked back into a tight bun. Meanwhile, Justin donned a white dress shirt and a black blazer. In a post from earlier in the night, he also reminded fans to watch his New Year’s Eve concert later tonight, which will be his first live concert in three years.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift‘s pal Claire Winter Kislinger took to Instagram on January 1 to share a Polaroid pic of her superstar friend. The image showed Taylor flipping her middle finger at the camera while rocking a purple sequined mini dress. “See ya never 2020,” Claire captioned the image, which may have been a throwback, given the lack of face masks seen in the pic. Taylor also had her arm wrapped around the shoulder of an unknown man — it wasn’t clear if it was her boyfriend Joe Alwyn.
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian celebrated the new year by cuddling with her two youngest kids, Penelope and Reign Disick, in bed. She posted a cute image of the special moment on Instagram on Jan. 1 and wrote, “Feeling extra grateful this morning that I get to wake up with these cuties, for all of the special time we got together this last year, for all of the reminders about what really matters, for slowing down. I learned so much this past year! Sending prayers of health and happiness to all. Happy New Year! (And yes, still in Christmas pajamas)”.
Paulina Porizkova
Former supermodel Paulina Porizkova, 55, didn’t have many words for her followers on New Year’s Eve, but she made sure that with her final post in 2020, she let everyone know how she really felt about the past 12 months of life on Earth. “F U 2020”, she captioned the image on Instagram, in which she can be seen flipping off the camera. She, like many others, didn’t love 2020, and as you’ll see below, she’s not the only celebrity who felt this way about the year that brought us a worldwide pandemic and took Kobe Bryant from us.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Just like us, Sarah Michelle Gellar, 43, is over 2020! The Buffy, The Vampire Slayer was all-smiles as she hilariously flipped the bird to the camera in her Dec. 31 post. “This is my goodbye to 2020. I have hope for 2021,” the actress — who is mom to kids Charlotte Grace Prinze, 11, and Rocky James Prinze, 8, began. “I hope my children can step foot in a classroom for the first time since March. I hope to hug my friends back home in NYC that I haven’t seen since March….Let me be the first tell you, my life is not perfect. In fact this year was the hardest I can remember. But it also had its beauty,” she added, reflecting on spending time with her children and husband Freddie Prinze Jr.
“I will always find the joy in that (even though at times I too get frustrated) And yes, I would love to find myself in new places, exploring new surroundings, but I will continue to choose to be part of the solution and follow the guidelines. I will make the most of this time even though it’s challenging,” she penned.
Taylor Swift
bye 2020, it’s been weird. pic.twitter.com/vQoZVSamkB
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 31, 2020
Taylor Swift, 31, had quite the 2020 dropping surprise albums Folklore and Evermore in quarantine — but even she’s over this year. The “Willow” singer brought the chuckles as she bundled up in an oversized grizzly bear costume and striped pink pajamas. “bye 2020, it’s been weird,” she attached to the image, which showed off her makeup-free complexion.
Scott Disick
Scott Disick, 37, is looking forward to greener pastures in 2021. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and dad-of-three posed in front of a private jet and his pricey black Bugatti for a Dec. 30 post. “Ready for 2021. Let’s [pray] for a better year,” he captioned the photo, including a prayer emoji. Scott sported the uniform of 2020 in a matching tie dye sweatsuit from his streetwear line Talentless (which went viral earlier this year for his “Please Wash Your Hands” collection).
Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen, 52, will be working on NYE as he co-hosts CNN’s special with BFF Anderson Cooper — but the dad of one was sure to get in some family time before heading out! The Watch What Happens Live host posted a sweet pic snuggling with his son Benjamin, 1, on Dec. 31. “Snuggles before the big night!” he captioned a snap of his and little Benjamin’s bare feet. The 1-year-old still appeared to be rocking his red-and-gray Christmas jammies. ‘See you on CNN starting at 8 EST – HAPPY NEW YEAR! #CNNNYE,” Andy added, plugging his live special.
Cynthia Bailey
Cynthia Bailey, 53, will be in Mexico when our calendars turn to 2021! The Real Housewives of Atlanta star shared a gorgeous makeup-free selfie of herself taken at RoMarley Beach House and wrote, “happy new year’s eve! are u guys ready for 2021?”
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore, 45, switched things up with her NYE post as she lead a short meditation via her Instagram! The new talk show host confessed she’s “always struggled” with the ancient practice, but asked her followers to follow along if they were interested. “5 minute New Years Eve ritual,” she posted in her caption. “You can go completely in,” she told her followers as she got cozy in her eclectic living room, showing off various art pieces and prints. “I’m very excited to have carved this time out and made this plan,” the Never Been Kissed actress added.
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington, 43, is ringing in 2021 with her dad Earl Washington. “#DadJokes have been a way for both my dad and I to find moments of joy in this challenging year. Even the social distanced ones helped bring us closer together. Thanks for laughing with us…(or at us!?),” she wrote, alongside two cute videos of the pair with paper headbands and hats.
Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian, 36, is staying safe on New Year’s Eve. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star revealed that she’s “staying in and cuddling” her “TuTu” — Khloe’s nickname for her daughter True Thompson, 2 — on her Instagram Story. “I hope everyone is staying safe and protecting their loved ones. I pray that this time next year will be better! Everyone be safe!! Happy New Years Eve!,” Khloe added in her New Year’s Eve message.
Kyle Richards
Kyle Richards, 51, is saying “goodbye” to 2020 the same way Lisa Vanderpump‘s husband, Ken Todd, told her “Goodbye, Kyle” in Season 9 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The “goodbye” signaled the end of Kyle and Lisa’s friendship, and Kyle is just as ready to part ways with 2020. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” the Bravo star cheekily captioned a photo of herself, taken from the iconic RHOBH scene.
Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner, 23, is celebrating New Year’s Eve in style. The makeup mogul shared photos of her snowy photo shoot in Aspen, where she is vacationing with her sister Kendall Jenner, mom Kris Jenner and Kris’s boyfriend Corey Gamble.
The family had a dinner outing in the ski resort town (see a photo in our gallery above). Kylie also hit the slopes with Kendall, as you can see in the videos above!
Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin
Justin Bieber, 26, and Hailey Baldwin, 24, are spending their New Year’s Eve as “a couple” bundled up in winter clothes and drinking coffee. “Just a couple, with matching jackets, beanies (tuques) if ur Canadian and coffee ready to bring in the new year with our friends and family!!,” Justin captioned the photo above. He also reminded fans to watch his New Year’s Eve concert later tonight, which will be his first live concert in three years.