Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicLet's travel back in time to the end of 2008, which was a year that brought us Miley Cyrus in her first controversy (those daring Annie Leibovitz photos), the first Sex and the City film, the birth of the Jolie-Pitt twins, Barack Obama's first presidential win, Britney Spears' "Circus" comeback and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin proclaiming on Saturday Night Live that she can see Russia from her house.
It was also the year that Taylor Swift catapulted from country music newbie to full-fledged country star with her second album, Fearless. Her boyfriend? Joe Jonas of the super hot brother trio the Jonas Brothers. They are young Hollywood's "it" couple. Until they weren't, because reportedly in the fall of 2008, Joe Jonas broke up with Taylor Swift in a 27 second phone call.
A couple of months later, after weeks of bad blood aired out in public between Joe and Taylor (please watch her video above to see what we mean), they were both scheduled New Year's Rockin' Eve to ring in 2009. After performing their own separate sets, they had to share the stage together to ring in 2009. And it. Was. Beautifully. Awkward.
Why are we bringing this up years later after these two have clearly moved on? Because it's New Year's Eve and we must remember what was the most awkward New Year's Eve TV moment of all time.
Can't you feel the tension in this photo?
And can't you see how Taylor can't help but look at Joe while they stand feet from each other in front of millions of people who know they had a bad breakup? Everyone's thinking it! Even Ryan Seacrest!
And then there was this moment after the countdown where everyone on stage started hugging each other and the public held their breath thinking, "are they going to hug each other?"
It's even worse in GIF form:
What do you even do when your ex is just about right next to you? Clap awkwardly. That's what you do.
And then Joe starts to sort of dance and we cringe from second-hand embarrassment:
Please just cut to the crowds! Or commercials! Anything but this!
Watch the awkwardness unfold below and be grateful that this year's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest lineup doesn't include a bunch of ex's:
Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Let's hope you aren't ringing in 2016 with your former flame literally steps away from each other on live TV.