The 2000s were a wild time for pop cultureNot only because everyone was wearing layered tank tops and low-slung jeans, but because movies and television were filled with stereotypes that… never get old.
At the time, much of this went unnoticed because it was presented as “harmless fun.” Watching this film now feels more like re-reading an old diary entry—entertaining, yes, but also a little cringing when you realize how commonplace homophobia, racism, and body shaming have become the norm.
So here are the anti-gay, fat-shaming and racist stereotypes that somehow blended into the background back then and now jump out at you with the words “Surprise! You tolerated it!”
1.
The “gay panic” joke was everywhere and quickly became boring.
2.
The only black friend existed only to promote the white protagonist.
3.
Fat suits were Hollywood's favorite cruel party trick.
4.
Queer-coded villains told us that being “too feminine” or “too flamboyant” had to be evil.
5.
Asian characters were either geniuses, ninjas, or comic relief – nothing in between.
6.
Thin girls were treated as if they had “let themselves go.”
7.
The gay characters were written as wisecracking buddies rather than real people.
8.
“The black character dies first” is practically a law in horror films.
9.
The larger characters were always shown eating as if that was their entire personality.
10.
Queer men were written in extremes, with nothing in between.
11.
Latino characters were almost always “edgy”, “fiery” or “maid”.
12.
Regardless of the plot, black women were described as “strong and loud friends.”
13.
Latino characters have been caught up in gang storylines time and time again.
14.
Healthier people were written as if they should be grateful for any attention at all.
Looking back on all these moments, it is strange how normal these things seemed at the time. We laughed, quoted lines, watched movies without blinking. And then suddenly the curtain goes up and I'm sitting here wondering how so many anti-gay jokes, racist stereotypes and fat-shaming storylines have slipped under the radar as “entertainment.”
And once you notice these patterns, it's impossible to go back to watching the 2000s the same way again. It doesn't ruin the nostalgia, but it definitely changes it. Tsk tsk.
