Can you believe the year 2000 was 25 years ago? 25 long years have passed since several new generations began. In the 80s, stars like Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Cher were making waves. In the 90s, celebs like Sandra Bullock, Pamela Anderson, and Tyra Banks had their time to shine.
But what about the early 2000s? Endless iconic moments, rifts, and scandals rocked our worlds in the early 2000s, and we won’t soon forget them — like that time J-Lo wore a jaw-dropping green-colored Versace dress to the 2000 Grammy Awards!
Jennifer Lopez Was a Show-Stopper in Versace
The early 2000s was Jennifer Lopez’s era since all eyes were on her at the time. That’s exactly the vibe she was after when she arrived at the 2000 Grammy Awards wearing a jungle print, silky chiffon Versace gown. The bright green hue and plunging neckline captivated anyone who looked her way.
Ashlee Simpson Was Caught Lip-Synching – Cringe
These days, lip-syncing isn’t considered such a big deal since people do it on TikTok every single moment or every single day. But back in 2004, Ashlee Simpson was dragged through the mud for lip-syncing her own song during a Saturday Night Live performance. The music started playing before she put the microphone to her lips and she was instantly exposed. Sadly, it negatively impacted her career at the time!
Madonna Kissed Britney Spears AND Christina Aguilera On Stage
Let’s think back to the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, when Madonna planted a big ol’ smooch on Britney Spears’ lips — just before kissing Christina Aguilera. In the early 2000s, that moment of Sapphic frisson was arguably the most shocking thing to happen on television for quite a while! Then, the camera crew scanned over Justin Timberlake’s face to get his reaction (knowing he had recently called it quits with Britney). It was simply icing on toppa the cake.
Kelly Clarkson Won Season 1 of American Idol
When the American Idol first season premiered in 2004, it was completely beloved. Viewers got to vote to see their favorite performers come out on top. That’s exactly why Kelly Clarkson took home her legendary win during American Idol’s first season ever. The show was life-changing for Kelly, who was catapulted to the most fabulous music career.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Elected as California’s Governor
For a cool minute, people viewed Arnold Schwarzenegger as an actor and only an actor. His time starring in The Terminator movie franchise was pivotal for his career in the 80s and 90s.
He shifted into politics when he became the republican state governor of California in 2003. Some would argue his political run as a celebrity-turned-politician paved the way for Donald Trump years later.
Michael Jackson Dangled His Son Over a Balcony Ledge
Let’s be real. Michael Jackson had no business dangling his son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony ledge in 2002. The argument was that he was so excited to show off his kid, and he wanted the world to see him! The world was neither amused nor impressed with him endangering the life of his child.
Martha Stewart Was Sentenced to Five Months in Prison
Martha Stewart‘s prison sentence certainly came as a shock to the system for her fan base. In 2004, a federal judge sentenced her to five months behind bars for insider trading.
Martha had a squeaky clean reputation as a professional chef with oodles of cookbooks and cooking shows and even a line of affordable household goods with Kmart. Her prison stint undoubtedly left an ugly mark on her reputation in the early 2000s. These days, people laugh it off.
Justin Timberlake Exposed Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl Halftime Show
The 2004 Super Bowl game was heavily overshadowed by what happened during the halftime show. It was wild, to say the least. Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson on stage by yanking off a part of her shirt on live television. Was it planned ahead of time? Was it a wardrobe malfunction? We may never truly know.
Paris Hilton’s Sex Tape Scandal Riled the Nation
In 2004, a sex tape featuring Paris Hilton called 1 Night in Paris went viral. The video was filmed in 2001 starring Paris and her boyfriend at the time, Rick Salomon.
Paris was already known as a wealthy socialite and heiress, but the sex tape caused her name to be splashed across headlines of magazines and newspapers in a completely unsavory way. Some pop culture fans are convinced Kim Kardashian was inspired by Paris to follow in those sex tape footsteps.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Hit Theaters
The first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, hit theaters in 2001. It was an instant global phenom. Some fans were already reading the Harry Potter books before the movies were filmed and released. Others simply fell in love with the magical storylines played out on screen thanks to actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
The Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston’s Love Triangle Explosion
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston appeared to be the most iconic celebrity marriage of all time. They tied the knot in 2000, and the world was heavily obsessed with them. Then, he met Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004. By 2005, Brad and Jennifer filed for divorce.
Brad went on to marry Angelina in 2014, many years after publicly dating. It’s widely believed there was overlap. People are convinced Brad and Angelina started their affair behind Jennifer’s back on the set of that fateful action-packed film. As of now, Brad and Angelina are going through their own messy divorce drama!
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette Premiered
These days, reality TV dating shows like Love is Blind, Too Hot to Handle, and Love Island are the talk of the town. But would these shows exist in all of their glory without The Bachelor and The Bachelorette paving the way?
The Bachelor premiered in 2001 and The Bachelorette followed in 2003. The early 2000s was a terrific time to tune in to these love-centered reality TV shows since they were filled to the brim with cringeworthy drama.
Britney Spears Performed With a Snake on Stage
In 2001, Britney hit the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards in NYC to perform “I’m a Slave 4 U.” She didn’t walk out on stage alone, though. She performed with a giant python snake which left audiences totally stunned. It was certainly one of the most memorable and unforgettable moments to ever go down in the early 2000s pop culture scene.
Lizzie McGuire and That’s So Raven Dominated Disney Channel
Disney Channel has always been a staple of childhood entertainment, but in the early 2000s, two shows captured the most attention: Lizzie McGuire (2001) starring Hilary Duff and That’s So Raven (2003) with Raven-Symone.
These are the shows that opened the floodgates for Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Sonny With a Chance.
Winona Ryder Was Caught Shoplifting
When Winona Ryder was caught shoplifting in 2001, it felt like one of the most random headlines ever. She stole $5,500 worth of designer clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, California.
The actress was charged with four felony counts, including grand theft, and released on a bail of $20,000. After the scandal, Winona took a five-year break from acting, but she’s back now. And many fans love seeing her in Stranger Things on Netflix.
