The general public always had something of an interest in celebrity couples — from Cleopatra and Mark Anthony to Bonnie and Clyde, and more recently Posh and Becks. But in the early 2000s, a huge shift took place and this fascination was launched to a whole new level. Lifestyle magazines Now, OK!, and Heat (launched in 1999) concentrated on the romantic relationships among the entertainment industry’s big names, and one of the most obsessed over were Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.
From the moment their relationship began, people were captivated by the couple, referring to them by the singular term, Brennifer. Brad was one of the biggest movie stars back then, while Jennifer was one of the headlining cast members of the most popular television series of the ‘90s through early 2000s. They got hitched in 2000, making waves in the pages of countless print media outlets. Even until today, the former lovers still have loyalists who would love to see them back together, despite turns their lives have taken since their dramatic split.
The obsession with Brennifer rolled into a new culture among fans. The romantic affairs of celebrities became more than just a hot topic. Gossip magazines, and the print media in general, may be in decline, but social media platforms and online blogs are here to replace these sources and cater to the needs of the celeb-obsessed public. This desire to see how the rich and famous live has spawned a new generation of reality television, presided over by Keeping Up With The Kardashians.