Most Memorable Decade-Defining Pop Culture Moments of the 2000s

The 2000s were an awkward era between the pre-internet culture and the new age where everyone is online, including all of your favorite celebs. Paparazzi were like bloodhounds, hunting famous people with their big, telescopic lenses. Reality TV exploded, celebrity couples became public property, and one red-carpet dress practically reshaped the internet.

These iconic moments shaped the perception of celebrities and pop culture for years to come.

Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan’s Legendary Feud

At that point in their lives, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were perceived by fans as the quintessential party duo of the 2000s. When you add Britney Spears to the mix, you create the iconic party trio capable of breaking any tabloid in the US. However, their friendship was not without its challenges. Rumors involving Hilton’s ex didn’t really help, while a nasty 2006 paparazzi rant from Paris’s friend Brandon Davis made things even worse. These two then kept throwing insults and spiteful comments at each other for years before eventually moving on.

Big Brother Made Everyone Tune In

Reality TV existed before Big Brother came around, but it solidified this genre as a tried-and-true guilty pleasure for all ages. The setup was basic: put a bunch of strangers in a camera-filled house and wait for things to happen. Alliances, romances, betrayals, and most importantly, juicy meltdowns were the viewers’ favorites. Big Brother proved ordinary people could become famous simply by being watched.

The Kardashians Turned Family Drama Into an Empire

To say that Keeping Up With the Kardashians was a hit would be to say absolutely nothing. The show introduced viewers to Kris Jenner’s camera-ready family, allowing regular people to vicariously watch sibling fights, first-world problems, really bad decisions, and enough crying faces to keep meme-makers busy for decades. Thanks to the popularity of the drama, pretty much all the Kardashian-Jenners became influencers and moguls while audiences kept watching.