Britney, Paris, and the 2000s Tabloid Era of Terror

Whether re-assessing the trauma endured by Britney Spears at the height of her fame or the agonies suffered by the late Amy Winehouse, we have a tendency to throw up our hands and insist that the treatment of famous women 20 years ago would never fly today.

But it did fly—and even thrive—and we’re still contending with that, as proven by the new book Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s. Written by Sarah Ditum, it digs deep into the particularities of the decade that made public recognition so excruciating for the women who dominated headlines and the collective consciousness at the time. What was it that made Paris Hilton, so rarefied and rich, also so digestible to the teeming masses? What was the most frustrating part of watching teen queen Lindsay Lohan destroy herself?

Ditum largely remixes and reframes pre-existing narratives in her book, but the insights she brings to the forefront are startling in their starkness. The chapters about singer Aaliyah—who died in a plane crash before the world could confront her about her relationship with R. Kelly—and Janet Jackson—whose Super Bowl gaffe destroyed her carefully cultivated image of sexual confidence—are particularly galling. Below, see more of the biggest highlights from Toxic, which hits bookstores today.

Read more at The Daily Beast.