We ’d rather bury about " rich Monica . "
Certain moments in pop culture just haven’t aged well: Think ofFriendshaving Courteney Cox don a fat suit to play “fat Monica,” or Aaliyah’s hit “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” ― a song written and produced by R. Kelly, who married Aaliyahwhen she was just 15.
There were a gross ton of “ oh , that would never happen today ” moments in 2005 , which , believe it or not , was 20 years ago . It was a time when Brangelina was all over the tabloids , Tom Cruise was start all over Oprah ’s couch , and MTV was make playful jest aboutDiddy ’s infamous party , before they go to his downfall .
Below , culture critic and entertainment writers share those and other second that , in hindsight , reallyhaven’t aged that well .
Diddy hosting the MTV Video Music Awards, and MTV joking about his infamous parties
“ The 2005 MTV Video Music Awards was hosted byDiddy . Any upshot with Diddy is already in bad discernment now , but to make matters worst , the promotion for the ceremony also featured celebrities likeNicole Ritchie and Derek Jeter providing testimonialsover how fabled Diddy ’s parties were . It could be bad : A few years before , at the 2003 VMAs , Diddy inviteda 13 - year - old to his afterparty . With late allegations , it ’s all incredibly uncomfortable to look out . ” ―Kam and Val , the hosts of the“Empty Theater Club”YouTube channel
Michael Scott’s “diversity day” training inThe Office
" The Officeis a ducky of many and gave us some of the most meme - able bit in television . But despite the fond memories many of us have of the iconic show , there are constituent that have not aged well : One of the most glaring from 2005 is the ‘ Diversity Day ’ episode . While the premise of Michael delivering a Chris Rock routine in the midriff of the office , resulting in HR needing to get involve , remains entertaining , the variety training that Michael provide is so racially insensitive that it is difficult to look on . That might be the point , but using slurs is still using slur , and credibly ( hopefully ? ) would n’t fly today . " ―Alise Chaffins , a film critic and author ofThe Ted Lasso Relationship Guide
Tom Cruise’s chaotic appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s show
“ Tom Cruise entrust us speechless every time he does a tempestuous , death - defy stunt in aMission : Impossiblefilm , but hisappearance onThe Oprah Winfrey Showleft us all thinking , What was that?He was supposed to be discussing his sci - fi movieWar of the Worlds , but he simply could n’t hold his excitement that day because he wassoin love with Katie Holmes . From punching the ground and laughing endlessly , to clenching Winfrey ’s hands and doing the iconic sofa jumping , it ’s a consequence that perplexed us all back when it bechance , and it ’s still so cringey to relive whenever a clip resurfaces . But the most awkward part has to be when he bunk backstage to bring Holmes out in front of the audience ― who were intone ‘ Katie ! Katie ! ’ ― and she looked like she did n’t want to be there whatsoever . How she did n’t get ‘ the ick ’ powerful then and there is a mystery to us all . ( They got wed the following twelvemonth , but divorce in 2012 ) . ” ―Ema Sasic , a film critic forNext Best Picture
When America letThe Apprentice: Martha Stewartget cancelled
“ Few may remember that the iconic life-style guru once had her own spin - off ofThe Apprenticein 2005 . This version saw contestant contend to mould for none other than Ms. Stewart herself . The show had lukewarm military rank and was cancel after one season , which some attribute to the fatigue duty of send on back - to - back night with Trump ’s version . One has to wonder : if the original program forMartha Stewart to ‘ ardor ’ Donald Trumpand take over the franchise had gone frontward , would we all be populate in a better timeline right-hand now?”― Matt Davis , the creator ofShall I Stream It ?
The early-aughts aesthetic and concept ofThe Girls Next Door
“ A reality show earlier focus on three women ( Holly Madison , Bridget Marquardt , and Kendra Wilkinson ) living at the Playboy Mansion feel correctly at home on this listing . The missy body forth the vivid beauty expectations of the former aughts , looking intimately identical with decolour blonde hair’s-breadth and Juicy Couture tracksuits . It ’s the kind of show that absolutely would n’t make it to air today , especially since multiple women spoke out against Hugh Hefner in theThe Secrets of Playboydocumentary . That said , The Girls Next Dooris a enchanting documentation of 2005 pop culture , inspire Madison and Marquardt to revisit each episode for a podcast 20 years later . ” ―Lexi Lane , a cultivation writer and director
Jessica Alba appearing in her underwear for no good reason inFantastic Four(a moment so bad, two culture critics chimed in about it!)
“ This twelvemonth , we lionize Marvel ’s first folk , The Fantastic Four , who return to the big screen on July 25 . But much has changed in 25 years . In 2025 , Sue Storm , played by Vanessa Kirby , is the chief operating officer of The Future Foundation , a fictional organisation which works to achieve global peace . But back in 2005 , Jessica Alba was give contemplating her hereafter in Hollywood whenherversion of Sue was written as little more than a amatory foil to her male counterparts . defective , the filmmakers used her superpower as an alibi for the actress to appear in only her underwear . Luckily , in 2025 , our female hero have graduate from being pretty criers and leather - clad middle candy to amply - actualise paladin who save the day side - by - side with their male co - stars . ” ―Neil Vagg , the editor ofGet Your Comic On
“ Say what you will about late mirthful - book movies such asMadam Web , Joker : Folie a Deux , andCaptain America : Brave New World ; one silver lining about the current State Department of the genre is that we could never reach the lows of limn superheroines only as eye candy like we once did in film such as 2005’sFantastic Four . Rather than showing Jessica Alba ’s Sue Storm grapple with her newfound mutation , the film producer go to exaggerated lengths to strip the fiber bare in rules of order for her to be to the full invisible as she ’s still learning to use her superpower . Not only would that alternative be categorized as creepy and fell today , as Sue is humiliated in world every metre she is discovered to be inconspicuous / naked , but it ’s a waste of fourth dimension when you could craft a superimposed character instead of over - sexualise them . ” ―Edgar Ortega , movie maker and the co - host of theWhere Heartbreak Feels Goodpodcast
The way race plays out in theKing Kongremake
“ Peter Jackson ’s update ofKing Kongexpands the horror classic into a sprawl three - hour movie , and the theatre director ’s penchant for excess contributed to a scene which , in retrospect , has n’t aged great . Granted , it ’s unmanageable to split up the knotty racial subtext from the 1933 original , but Jackson ’s take onintroducing the native hoi polloi of Skull Islanddoesn’t just peddle in a kind of horror savagery take over of racial stereotypes ; it duplicate down . Jack Driscoll ( Adrien Brody ) , Ann Darrow ( Naomi Watts ) and the rest of their filmmaking crew find themselves skirt by snarling native , a host of atrocious caricatures sizz and gnashing their tooth at the intruders . Rather than the cartoony stereotypes of the pre - CodeKong , these Skull Island denizen are explicitly horrific . When they encircle Jack and Ann , the image of Black resister closing in on our white heroes does n’t sit well . ” ―Brianna Zigler , an amusement writer and author ofBrianna ’s Digest , a newssheet about lifestyle and pop music culture
Hayden Christensen’s widely panned performance inStar Wars: Episode III
“ 2005 was quite the year , with lots of pop culture moments to remember , from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ’s affair going public , to Kanye Westgoing off book for a Hurricane Katrinatelethon that appall the worldly concern and gave us a precursor into who he is . One affair I ca n’t bury ? This was also the yearRevenge of the Sithcame out , and manyStar Warsfans consort that Hayden Christensen ’s playing was not secure and has n’t get on well at all . ”―Kristina Oakes , the co - master of ceremonies of the Movie Night Extravaganza podcast
Kirsten Dunst’s especially egregious “Manic Pixie Dream Girl”
“ In 2005 , Cameron Crowe’sElizabethtowngave us the concluding mannequin of a now - infamous archetype : the Manic Pixie Dream Girl . Kirsten Dunst ’s Claire may have once matte precious and capricious , but rewatching it now make it clear that behind her endless supply of chirpy assertion , she ’s utterly hollow . Existing alone to save Orlando Bloom ’s grieving friend ( whom she hardly knows ) , this spirited trajectory attendant spends her time dropping pseudo - profound lines directly out of a Hallmark posting , scrapbooking a self-generated route trip she insists he take , and revealing nothing about herself — not that he asks , either .
MPDGs may have existed beforeElizabethtown , but not under an official title . While writing about the film for The A.V. Club , critic Nathan Rabin coined the terminal figure , and it ’s all thanks to Claire . ‘ I ’m unacceptable to forget , but I ’m hard to think back , ’ she chew over at one point . Perhaps her lack of staying power fall from just that — there ’s nothing to remember . Rabin mayregret coining the archetype , but in doing so , he and Crowe gave us a lasting reminder of how not to spell female fictitious character . ” ―Marta Djordjevic , a film history journalist and the author of theRewind & Reviveblog
Those dorky Team Jolie/Team Aniston shirts and hats
“ When Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston part and he got with Angelina Jolie , everyone was wear a Kitson hot item : baseball tee for Team Jolie or Team Aniston . Paris and Nicky Hiltonboth wore competing shirtsspotted out in LA . This was a tabloid dominating story , and somehow still pops up . The debate of choosing a side between these women was next tier . Selling merch to pluck a side is something never seen before . I can not imagine in 2025 mass proudly put on the shirts selecting side of two woman instead of just being wild at the man who chisel on his married person . ”―Kenzie Vanunu , the beginner ofOffscreen Central , a film review web site featuring female and non - binary writers
The entire premise of the Ryan Reynolds movieWaiting…
The birth control tampering inDesperate Housewives
“ Carlos tampers with Gabrielle ’s giving birth restraint throughout the serial ! Carlos and Gabrielle Solis had a explosive relationship throughout the show , mostly stanch from how Carlos could never fully ‘ control ’ his wife . She expressed multiple times her lack of desire for children , mostly for vanity understanding . Nonetheless , it was her decision . Carlos was n’t have it , so he tampered with her giving birth control . by nature , she does n’t react kindly to the news show . It ’s see as a good thing , though , because it ’s what he wanted , and they ’re married , they ’re supposed to have children . In any shell , Carlos ’ plan sort of backfires : Since she was screw on him with John , the teen nurseryman , the babe was most likely John ’s , but we never get to notice out since she suffers a miscarriage .
That being said , this was not the end of Carlos ’ tampering with birth control . In a later season , he lie to her about having gotten a vasectomy when she had adamantly assure him to get one after the birth of their youngest daughter . When she finds out , she is truly confused , but Carlos get to her take pity on him by expressing that he lied because he hoped that they would eventually be able-bodied to have a son . It always felt that Gabrielle was being punished throughout the series because she was the only one of the women of Wisteria Lane who did not need children . Even when she finally has them , she is painted as a big female parent because she seems not to have intercourse her children ; she could never come through in this series , it seems . It was sort of the same case for Lynnette , who kept consume children seemingly against her will , because she desire to keep sour , but was deter from doing so because of the kids . This series treated women who dare to dream a life outside of maternity not too kindly . ” ―Gabriela Burgos , the conscientious objector - horde of the“Film Posers ” podcast
WhenCrashbeatBrokeback Mountainfor Best Picture at the 78th Academy Awards
“ The 78th Academy Awards showcased the very best in picture from 2005 , but obviously , the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thought that Paul Haggis ’ vision of raceway in Los Angeles was the best moving picture of 2005 over the dear and heavily favoredBrokeback Mountain . Crashreceived decent reviews in 2005 , but is now wait at as a risible film and turn over by many to be one of theworst Best Picture winner ever , thanks to its absurd and narrow view of backwash in America and its thinly written , cartoonish characters . fundamentally , the Academy decide to present a movie they deem important over an really of import flick inBrokeback Mountain , which go bad ethnical and cinematic stereotypes in telling its story about the forbidden love life between two cowboys . ” ―Kevin Wozniak , a photographic film critic and writer forKevflixandFilm Obsessive
Theverydark reality showThe Will
“ Let me set the scene for most of you : The show wasThe Will . A multi - millionaire named Bill Long recruits 10 of his ally and relatives to contend in a serial publication of challenges to inherit his ‘ prized possession , ’ a large Kansas ranch . This CBS show wasoutrageousand quickly commit off the melodic phrase because of depleted ratings . afterward in the year , the show finally aired all six episodes on FOX , which saw Long ’s fourth married woman ( recognise as the baddie ) Penny win the spread . Over the year , we ’ve seen many bad iterations of reality TV appearance , but this one was the ice on the patty . Could you imagine what the modern - day version ofThe Willwould look like ? I cogitate it would be mussy and occupy with effectual issue . I by all odds would watch , but networks are too smart for that . ” ―Ricky Valero , a picture show criticThis article originally come out onHuffPost .
