A familiar wave of 1990s nostalgia took a humorous turn this week as the Backstreet Boys shared a lighthearted April Fools’ Day post across social media. The group appeared to follow the viral Iris meme trend, which typically revisits emotional or iconic moments from the past.
The video initially set the tone with throwback-style visuals, suggesting a tribute to the band’s early years. Midway through, the clip shifted unexpectedly, swapping out Backstreet Boys imagery for archival photos of *NSYNC. The caption added to the joke with a nod to Bye Bye Bye, reinforcing the playful misdirection.
The moment tapped into a long-standing pop culture narrative that once framed the two groups as rivals. Over time, that perception has softened, with both acts acknowledging that much of the competition was amplified by media and fan culture.
