Died in a car crash in Paris (Pont de l’Alma tunnel) on 31 August 1997; her death prompted a global outpouring of grief and massive media attention.

On April 20, 1999 two seniors carried out an attack at Columbine High School that left many dead and changed U.S. conversations about school safety, media, and prevention.

In June 1993 Lorena Bobbitt famously cut off her husband’s penis; the appendage was recovered and surgically reattached, and the case sparked huge media debate over domestic violence and gender.

Oprah brought weight, dieting, and health to national conversation across the 1990s and 2000s — many episodes featured guests, personal stories, and high-profile transformations.

The 1995 criminal trial ended in a not-guilty verdict for Simpson; a later civil trial found him liable for wrongful death and ordered damages. The case had enormous media and cultural impact.