I’m so glad this era is being reexamined! This was done so well and I think it would be so great as a documentary or docuseries. Incredible that we tolerate the treatment of anyone like that and called it entertainment. As a millennial woman, it was also fascinating to think of how much these stories and portrayals shaped the way we thought of ourselves as well. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A fascinating look at the lives of nine celebrities who rose to prominence in the early 2000s - which, wow, there's a lot I've forgotten or repressed or straight-up ignored at that time!

I really liked the book's organization and how it took a deep-dive approach, focusing on one woman per descriptive, rich chapter. And I'm obsessed with this framing in the introduction: "For the public, tearing these women to pieces was both a social activity and a form of divination. In the entrails of their reputations, we hunted for clues about what a woman out to be, and this has always been one of the functions of celebrity women ... The cast of this book - four singers, two actresses, two reality stars, and a pro wrestler - were the two-way mirrors of the Millenial era." Yes!

However, I was surprised when I hit the end! It felt weirdly abrupt to me; I was craving more reflection. I know there was a conclusion - and it was interesting and provocative! - but it felt to me more like a standalone, kind of rushed chapter focused on Robin Thicke/Taylor Swift/the 2010s than a true tying-together and looking-ahead. I wanted more, and when I hit the acknowledgements, I wondered whether I'd accidentally skipped the last chapter.

I'm also not sure how I feel about the fact that SO much of the book was about ... men. In particular, the Britney Spears and Janet Jackson chapters could almost have been renamed Justin Timberlake, and Aaliyah's could have certainly been renamed R. Kelly. I totally understand the tension here - these men DID have significant impact on these women - but it felt weird, at times, for a book about women to give as much spotlight if not more to men.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, read it quickly, and it gave me a lot to think about. I could see Anne Helen Petersen (Culture Study) profiling it, which is a high compliment!

Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A look into the lives of nine female celebrities and how fame/celebrity impacted them in negative and toxic ways.

I thought this one was fine but didn’t live up to its potential. I found that a lot of the chapters ended up focusing a lot more on what was happening to the men in these women’s lives than actually analyzing the toxicity of celebrity. I also don’t know why Jennifer Aniston was included because her chapter didn’t really fit as well with the others. I also think Ditum could have been more analytical of the role of paparazzi in all of this.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Intended audience is perhaps the most important part of understanding the background of Sarah Ditum’s Toxic. This book has a very specific target, women who experienced the decade at a certain age. Younger millennials will not have been old enough to experience the decade and an older generation X may be less aware of the havoc wrecked by the tabloids.

Being a year younger than Ditum, I fully saw the effects of overt sexualization of young girls during that period and the detrimental impact it had upon them. However, retrospection is obvious. When comparing then and now, I agree progress has been made. I also feel that just stating this is not enough. That’s the thing with progress, if we simply compare the past to the present, we will always see the past as shortsighted.

From an intersectional perspective, the book could have delved more into the work of Crenshaw and focused on more diverse backgrounds of women adding to more thought-provoking context. Overall, I found the nine women’s stories to be relevant, important, and worth the read.

Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s is a semi-academic look into the aughts (allegedly) and uses the framework of nine separate female celebrities to discuss different ways the decade was problematic. This was very well researched, and done in a form that blended theory with tabloid resources, making it accessible to a more casual reader.

I say "allegedly" in regards to the decade, because Ditum's choice of women do not all fall neatly into the decade. For example, there is a chapter on Aaliyah, who passed away a little over two weeks before 9/11 took place. Further, this chapter deals significantly with R. Kelly, and it is clear that he is who Ditum wanted to discuss more in-depth. Do I think the chapter made excellent points regarding the decade, particularly in contrast with her conclusion chapter? Yes. Was it frustrating to read 90% of a chapter named after Aaliyah about the man who groomed her? Also yes.

I really enjoyed this book and give it a solid 4 stars. However, Ditum dead-names three separate trans individuals, which made me uncomfortable. The third was Caitlin Jenner, and Ditum notes that Jenner herself has stated she is ok with being deadnamed/misgendered when discussing the period before she transitioned, and Ditum therefore does the same. While I would personally still choose not to deadname her, I understand this decision. The other two trans individuals, however, did not make similar statements, and I cannot ignore that. Therefore, I dock a star from this book. Particularly because this could be very triggering to some.

Thank you to Abrams Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"...Pop culture fans, particularly Millennials, will be drawn to Ditum’s engaging writing and thoughtful observations. Pairs well with a viewing of The Most Hated Man on the Internet." - full review to appear in Booklist.

Toxic, a nonfiction book, examines the paradoxical relationships of multiple famous women of the late 90’s to early 2000’s. A good description could be famous women, the men who wrecked them and the public who devoured them.
As a person who was already of age when all of these scandals played out I can say that at times this was a difficult book to read. Granted there are a few of these women who I had no interest in and had no desire to consume the voracious content of their lives, but there are some who I admit I was absolutely swept into the frenzy. I was proudly #teamjen and admit to still feeling so horribly for Britney Spears and what has happened to her. How much guilt do we all have for what has happened to some of these women in their lives.
The only issue I really have with this book is just how much time was spent on the men in their lives as compared to the actual women. In particular R. Kelly, Brad Pitt and Justin Timberlake are so prominent in some of the chapters it’s easy to loose focus on who is actually important here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. It was a good read and eye opening. Hopefully others will read it and reflect on the damage done and continuing to be done on such a massive scale thanks to social media these days.

There was something that made me uncomfortable about Ditum's coverage of female celebrities during, what she calls the "upskirt era" of the early 2000s. Her citations are uneven, giving a slap-dash feel to the research, hinting it may be incomplete. The ethics of Perez Hilton and TMZ have been the topic of books, articles, and opinion pieces for over a decade; Ditum adds little new to an ongoing conversation. Ditum makes some missteps, some of which are more slight, like criticizing a post-9/11 romcom set in NYC for not being gritty (?) enough, but others are more odious.

Admittedly, I didn't finish Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s. I made it through the Aaliyah chapter. It is immediately clear that Aaliyah isn't the focus of the chapter, R. Kelly is. Ditum suggests R. Kelly became a "hero" of Chicago's Black community and was able to escape consequences because of the two-fold belief that "women lied to hurt Black men and the belief that if Black men did hurt women, that mattered less than the fact of racism." Ditum does not address the race of the women, a baffling oversight for someone trying to support their argument by citing Crenshaw and invoking Emmett Till. That's when I called it quits.

3.5 This book is extremely interesting and I am glad that I requested it. I was not old enough to witness all of these things in real time but since everything is so iconic I knew of these instances. This novel is extremely thought provoking and shows the toxicity that women have to endure. Specifically those who are in the limelight. Every woman that was examined deserves an apology and much more. The only gripe that I had with the book was the issue of pacing. I felt as though the pacing was lacking and the first half moved really fast and kept you interested but then it started to fall flat. 

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgally for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I'm giving this book 3 stars because 2 feels too harsh, but I must admit I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did. I think my disappointment derives from what I felt to be the dry style of writing. Ditum is a journalist and this is a non-fiction book, but as a millennial woman who came of age during this period, I think I wanted the writing to match my emotion regarding this period. I'm. not saying I'm right in wanting this, but nevertheless, I found the approach a bit dull. The author is clearly very knowledgeable and credible, but I think I was bored because, for the most part, I didn't really feel like I was learning anything new or getting a perspective I hadn't really considered before. I think a lot of people will like this book and although I didn't dislike it--I wasn't really jammed on it and had to really push myself to get through it.

this was SO interesting to read, especially having witnessed so much of it in real time, and painted such a full, clear picture of the toxicity of pop culture (then AND now). it made me feel more deeply connected to my womanhood and the experiences that come with it, the ways they shape us -- both as victims, witnesses and survivors of it.

definitely an important & mind-opening read, without being too dense or heavy.

TOXIC is an excellent, thought-provoking, enraging, sobering read and one I immediately dove into the moment I received that approval email.

Whether you watched it happen in real time or are a pop culture junkie, you know the stories of these celebrities, women so famous you only need their first names to know exactly who they are: Britney, Paris, Lindsay, Kim. Each chapter focuses on one woman and the moment that changed everything. Ditum then breaks down and explores how the media -- and the emerging World Wide Web -- reacted (spoiler: it wasn't a great look for humanity).

One aspect I wasn't a huge fan of was, despite this being a book whose entire purpose was to focus on these women, so much of each chapter was spent on a man. In the case of Justin Timberlake, *two* chapters (Britney's and Janet's).

Apologies to and redemption for these women came embarrassingly late and they all deserved so much better.

Popular culture has recently turned the mirror on itself. Re-examinations of the way society devoured famous (or infamous) women for LOLs in the not-so-distant past have become a popular form of entertainment. Examples include the miniseries "Pam & Tommy" on Hulu, the several documentaries about Britney Spears & her conservatorship, the rehabilitation of Paris Hilton as a crusader against child abuse, "American Crime Story: Impeachment" (which tells the Monica Lewinsky story from her point of view), & the like. This book is a continuation of that theme.

Each chapter focuses on a different woman who achieved fame in the 2000s & examines the ways in misogyny (& often its favored companion, racism) informed her story. Each woman is probably famous enough to be known by one name only: Britney. Aaliyah. Paris. Kim. Lindsey. Jen. If you read "Star" magazine, TMZ, or Perez Hilton in the aughts, you know exactly who these women are, & you probably remember at least the rough outlines of the scandals that surrounded them. In many cases, their stories overlap & feed one another.

Ditum casts the aughts as a particularly fraught & disgusting time to be a woman, going so far as to name it the Upskirt Decade. She has a compelling story explaining the moniker, but even so...It felt a bit polemical to me. I'm a woman, only a year or two older than Ditum, so I lived through this entire period in tandem with her in terms of cultural consciousness. I can attest to the fact that the world is different for women now than it was twenty years ago, or even ten years ago. But often when people do these looks back at recent history, they fall into the Steven Pinker trap of perceiving That Time as Bad & Now Things are Better. There's an assumption that there's an inevitable march toward progress. Acknowledging the obvious issues of the past lets us off the hook for addressing the obvious issues of the now.

Obviously addressing the misogyny of the now is not the remit of Ditum's book. As a history of the way the extraordinarily misogynist tabloid culture of the 2000s impacted the lives of the nine woman featured in this book, it does what it says on the tin, & is impressively well-researched & extensively footnoted. I greatly appreciated the examination into how race often played an unspoken role in shaping some of these women's stories. Ditum asks some diffiult questions about this topic, which is great. The overall tone of the book was a little bit ginned-up for me--kind of like someone trying to sustain the energy of an outraged Nextdoor post for 300 pages. Ditum had to make a few leaps of logic & really focus on the negative to get there. But as her footnotes show, everything she cited really did happen. To real people, often young women who didn't understand what they were getting into. For an audience of other young women & girls who were consciously or unconsciously absorbing the narratives as a guide on how to be a woman in the 21st century. I was there & it truly was a toxic situation.

A must-read for anyone interested in feminism, modern media, the cultural currency of fame, tabloid culture, or any of the celebrities featured within.

3.5/5 stars

Sarah Ditum presents a scathing account of the toxic culture from the 2000s. For those of us this lived through this time it provides a fresh perspective on how the media portrayed women and fed narratives that fed off of scandal.

Have we come far enough from that toxicity? No, but the historical perspective does allow us to see how far we have come.

"Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s" by Sarah Ditum is a compelling and insightful examination of the tumultuous relationship between women, celebrity culture, and the media in the early 2000s. With sharp wit and thoughtful analysis, Ditum delves into the complexities of this era, shedding light on the impact of tabloid journalism on women in the public eye.

One of the book's greatest strengths is Ditum's ability to offer a fresh and unique perspective on a period that is often overshadowed by sensationalism and gossip. Through meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, she presents a nuanced portrayal of the tabloid-driven frenzy that engulfed famous women during the 2000s. By contextualizing these events within the broader cultural landscape, Ditum provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women seeking success and fame in that era.

Ditum's writing style is both engaging and incisive, making "Toxic" an enjoyable and informative read. Her analysis is insightful and thought-provoking, inviting readers to consider the role of media in shaping public perception and the often devastating consequences it had on the lives of female celebrities. Throughout the book, Ditum encourages readers to question their own consumption of tabloid news and its impact on the lives of those in the spotlight.

Furthermore, "Toxic" doesn't merely focus on the negative aspects of tabloid culture but also celebrates the resilience and strength of the women who navigated its treacherous waters. Ditum highlights instances where female celebrities managed to reclaim their narratives and use their platforms to effect positive change. This balanced approach adds depth to the narrative and leaves readers feeling empowered and hopeful.

Another standout aspect of the book is Ditum's ability to connect past events to contemporary issues. By drawing parallels between the tabloid culture of the 2000s and today's media landscape, she emphasizes the importance of learning from history to avoid perpetuating harmful behaviors and attitudes. This relevance to modern times makes "Toxic" not only a compelling historical account but also a cautionary tale that remains relevant in our media-saturated world.

In summary, "Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s" is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of celebrity culture, media, and gender. Sarah Ditum's intelligent analysis and captivating storytelling make this book a captivating exploration of a transformative era in media history. Thought-provoking, insightful, and empowering, "Toxic" is a valuable addition to the conversation surrounding the portrayal of women in the public eye.

Toxic is a thoughtful and painstakingly researched look at some of the most famous women of the early 2000s. It documents how these women each served as archetypes for whatever cultural anxiety was plaguing us at the moment, and how we collectively sought to punish them for it.

I remember the Britney, Paris, Lindsay and Janet stuff from when it all went down, and Aaliyah died in my first year of teaching middle school, so I knew the affect it had on my female my students. I didn't know much about Amy Winehouse and was completely unfamiliar with Chyna, so I found their chapters to be interesting. I've never seen an episode of the Kardashians but somehow knew everything that was discussed in the chapter, so I assume it's now just a part of the DNA of the average American, and Aniston's story was just as familiar because I did follow her for many years.

I found the organization of the book to be interesting because the women at the beginning and at the end of the book carved their own paths and while they were affected by the men in their orbit, their stories were ultimately their own. The two women in the middle were Aaliyah and Janet, whose stories were so entangled with famous men that their chapters ended up being mostly about the men. I don't think there was a different way to have told Aaliyah's story because her story WAS R. Kelly's story. Janet, on the other hand, had her own story long before JT was a part of it. The fact that the bulk of her chapter involved JT felt like she was once again getting lost in the background of her own life.

All in all, an excellent read. I appreciated the careful documentation of events (complete with sources)... in fact, the final 55 pages are devoted to chapter-by-chapter footnotes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read this in one sitting. Having grown up during this era, I found myself nodding along to almost everything. I was a bit surprised at the inclusion of Chyna among the other perhaps more ubiquitous names of the 2000s, but that might just be the environment I grew up in. It was also fascinating to see the trajectory of a career, in some cases a life, laid out chronologically as opposed to getting bits and pieces from the (toxic) media of the time. I highly recommend this book.

I devoured this book. Loved the commentary on these figures of pop culture. Each chapter was presented well, featuring a different woman/figure and the events that led to their "downfalls" as well as their respective reckonings with the public. I will be recommending this book when it is published next year.

As a millennial firmly rooted in pop culture tropes of the MTV era, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While the holy trinity of Britney, Paris, and Lindsay has been discussed over and over, I liked how this book viewed them from a different lens. These ladies did what anyone else in their shoes at that time would have done. If it wasn't for them, it would have been other celebrities. Despite whatever downfall or public humiliation they've endured, their stardom has stood the test of time, and those three are more popular than ever now! I really appreciated the chapters on Aaliyah and Amy Winehouse because their history is often not celebrated enough. Aaliyah comes on the hills of the dark aura that is R Kelly, further set into history as a tragic soul gone too soon due to her plane crash. Amy had a good upbringing, but in her pursuit of love and domestic womanhood, fell so miserably far, and she, too, became another life abandoned. I also enjoyed that Chyna the Wrestler was included among the women in the book-it was surprising! I think her story is perhaps the saddest of all because all of her accolades and success were forever marred by her drug abuse and porn history (which was a result of the wrestling industry abandoning her because she was the ex of the son-in-law of the big wig that controlled all of big time wrestling at that time). All in all, this book provides a great refresher on the careers of a few famous women (some living and some not), as well as dissects what made them famous, how they either survived or succumbed to that fame, and what their legacy either is, or might have been. Any pop culture fan would really dig this book. Thanks, NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

Toxic is a well-written, thoroughly researched examination of nine female celebrities from the 2000s, and reading it is simultaneously a trip down memory lane (the infamous Paris/Lindsay/Britney car pic!) and an infuriating reminder of the sexist culture these women navigated their celebrity status in. If you love pop culture, especially the early 2000’s, you will be reminded of the horrors of magazines highlighting women’s imperfections (paparazzi pics of cellulite!), of celebrity sex tapes being shared without abandon, and of the no-holds-barred era of “slut-shaming, fat-shaming, and revenge porn.” A lot of the information within the text is stories most people are well aware of, but there are also a lot of interesting connections to other events that the author seamlessly ties in. Ditum’s passion for pop culture flies off the page and she does a perfect job of exploring a time period that let celebrity women (and women as a whole) down. I highly recommend this fun, eye-opening read!