The pop culture moment of the early 2000s can be distilled into one image: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s matching denim outfits at the 2001 American Music Awards. The iconic style statement was the final gesture to bind the couple whose teenage romance had released a number of hit records and had become a staple of both tabloids and American youth culture.
Though their relationship started in the late ’90s, it was the 2000 release of Britney’s single “Oops!…I Did It Again” that cemented their status as “America’s favorite young couple”. Going from being friends to openly dating, the pair were seen together frequently throughout the year and made various appearances on talk shows and during red carpet events, including the 2001 American Music Awards.
At the time, Britney and Justin were both making waves in their respective music scenes and were at the height of their celebrity. They made a number of joint appearances on television and even performed a few duets, the most notable of which was their rifts-filled version of “What It’s Like To Be Me” off of Justin’s solo album, Justified.
By July 2002, however, tabloid rumors had started to swirl that the couple had split, which was confirmed shortly thereafter. Though the break-up was amicable and the former couple continued to collaborate musically, their joint appearance at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards was a moody one and marked the beginning of the end of their public declaration of love.
Though it’s been nearly twenty years, their famously cozy denim moment from the 2001 American Music Awards will always sound as a reminder of their relationship and the end of an era. It’s no wonder that two of the biggest teenage idols of our time will always hold a special place in our hearts.