KEY POINTS:
To mark the tenth anniversary of nzherald.co.nz, we're rounding up some of the highlights of the past decade. Here's our pick of the biggest entertainment headlines since 1999, as chosen by celebrity news blogger, Myrddin Gwynedd.
2008 - Heath Ledger's Death: When actor Heath Ledger was found
dead in his New York apartment on January 22, 2008, the world stood back with shock and disbelief. His death was later confirmed as accidental, the tragic result of a toxic cocktail of prescription drugs. [More]
2007 - Britney Spears' downward spiral: 2007 was truly an annus horribilis for fallen pop starlet Britney Spears. She started the year off with a 24 hr stint in a drug rehabilitation facility, then shocked the world after shaving her head with a pair of clippers. Personal struggles, a second child, divorce and a widely-panned performance at the MTV Video Music Awards followed - all of which signalled the former American sweetheart's fall from grace. [More]
2006 - Steve Irwin dies: Australian naturalist and "crocodile hunter" Steve irwin died on 4 September, 2006. He was killed by a stingray during a diving expedition off the Australian coast. News of his death prompted widespread worldwide shock. [More]
2005 - Michael Jackson's child abuse trial:
Troubled singer Michael Jackson was once again the focus of sexual abuse allegations in 2005. Jackson was accused of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, giving him alcohol and conspiring to kidnap him and his family. The singer was subsequently found not guilty at the end of a gruelling four-month trial. [More]
2004 - Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction':
It was one of the most talked-about events of the year. Janet Jackson sang a medley of her hits with Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl halftime show in February. As Timberlake sang the lyric "gonna have you naked by the end of this song" from his hit Rock Your Body, he tore open Jackson's top, exposing her right breast - complete with weirdo nipple attachment. Cue culture war. [More]
2003 - Britney and Madonna kiss:
One-time controversial pop singer Madonna resorted to pretty cheap shock tactics at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2003. Madge performed onstage with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott - and proceeded to play tonsil tennis with both Aguilera and Spears during the charade. A media frenzy ensued. [More]
2002 - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes dies in a car crash:
TLC singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was a Grammy Award-winning American rapper, singer-songwriter, teen idol, and member of the popular R&B group TLC. She perished in a car accident in the Central American nation of Honduras in April 2002. She was aged 30. Lopes was reportedly among seven of her friends in the car and was the only fatality. [More]
2001 - Winona Ryder arrested for shoplifting:
Winona Ryder is arguably better known for her light-fingered shopping expedition than her acting. Winona's world fell apart on December 12, 2001 when she was caught stealing thousands of dollars worth of goods from an exclusive department store in Los Angeles. Ryder was sentenced to three years' probation, 480 hours of community service and fined US$10,000. [More]
2000 - Whitney Houston's marijuana drug drama:
On January 11, 2000, Whitney Houston and her hubby Bobby Brown were stopped by security guards at a Hawaiian airport after they discovered marijuana in their luggage. The two boarded a plane before authorities arrived. Charges made against the two were later dropped. [More]
1999 - Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscars weeper:
Gwyneth Paltrow's rambling and tear-soaked speech as she accepted a Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love at the 1999 Academy Awards was a particular highlight of the year. Paltrow positively howled as she proceeded to thank the entire world for her win and left the usually reliably sentimental audience squirming in their seats. What a weep-down. [More]