Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake step out as a couple

For the sake of their young fan bases, and despite ample photographic evidence of a romance, the ex-Mousketeers denied dating during the early years of their pop stardom. That is, until their handlers realized that such mega-publicity might be a good thing if the couple came clean. Which worked until the two fell out of their puppy love and … well, we all know what happened to Spears after that.