Sordid Tales From The World Of Boy Bands

Former Insiders Claim Lou Pearlman Made Advances On Proteges

(CBS)  The Backstreet Boys, 'NSync and other bands in music mogul Lou Pearlman's empire enjoyed huge worldwide success in the 1990s. Now, a new report says that behind the scenes several of the young, male singers had to put up with their boss' sexual advances, Vanity Fair reports.

"None of these kids will ever admit anything happened," one attorney who has sued Pearlman in a contract dispute tells special correspondent Bryan Burrough. "They're all too ashamed, and if the truth came out it would ruin their careers."

The article details Pearlman's rise to power through his aviation and music ventures followed by his crushing downfall amid lawsuits from former band members that have landed him in a Florida jail awaiting trial on fraud charges. Insiders tell stories of Pearlman showing pornographic films to his young talent, greeting guests at the door wearing only a towel, and inappropriate touching including massages to balance one young man's "aura."

While some deny anything improper ever happened, Burrough talks with former Pearlman proteges and their parents. One former assistant, who wanted desperately to be in one of Pearlman's bands, says that many involved knew of Pearlman's alleged predilections.

"I would absolutely say the guy was a sexual predator," Pearlman's former assistant Steve Mooney says. "All the talent knew what Lou's game was. If they say no, they're lying to you."

More than a dozen insiders tell Burrough they heard stories of Pearlman's behavior while insisting they experienced nothing untoward themselves.

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Photos: Stars Behind Bars

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"I tried to protect the kids," says a former publicist, Jay Marose. "You'd see Lou kind of moving in on one of them, and you'd just tell someone, 'Get that kid away from Lou before it's too late.' "

The November issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 3 and nationally on Oct. 9.

[jacksteen1]

My comments that I posted yesterday have been censored...and all I did was bring up the fact that practically eveything in TinselTowne is fakey and gay...that miracles like ''impotent'' Tiny Tom Cruise ''fathering'' baby/waterhead Soorie, and known poofter Vinne Barbarino suddenly getting married to $cientology maven/womb-for-hire Kelly Press-On in exchange for the ''church''/cult to keep his gay secret ''quiet''......

It''s all make believe, folks!

How long will this message stay before the $cientology police censor it again ?!

[ajaxrose1]

He''s a disgusting pig. If other adults knew enough to try and keep him away from the kids why did they allow it to go on? Oh, yeah, they were in his pocket making a ton of money right along wiht him. Now''s a fine time to speak up, but I guess since he''s not making money for people they figure they''re taking the high road by throwing him under the bus. The ones who knew need to be thrown under with him.

[briansgirl2]

He always like a little "weird" to me.

[ago5675]

That fat toad scumbag in no better than the dirtbags who have been convicted of raping small kids. Only difference? He has stashed millions and will hire the best to get him cleared of any charges if he is ever brought up. He will never be convicted because of the "shame" it would bring? Please!!!! It''s not a shame. Voluntary participants were kids, not adults!!!!!

[keithle1]

Old news. How''d you like to get it on with that toad? In an airport men''s room perhaps.

Boys can use what they got to make it in showbiz just like girls can. Hello!

..inappropriate touching including massages to balance one young man''s "aura."

Makes sense to me.

[hypnotoad72]

All those boys still have careers? Who''d have thunk that?

Coming out with this story, no pun intended, will give them another 5 minutes. So why isn''t any of them, *cough*, coming out with the allegations? Much like Michael Jackson, Lou P. is hardly broke...

Mind you, the grown up Menudo kid who once said (and I''m paraphrasing) "it doesn''t matter, it''s nobody''s business what anyone does, so don''t talk of it" later said (more paraphrasing) "I''m gay and everybody has to know it." When did he lose his sense of maturity?

As for the pedophile in the article, put him away. Many victims of these animals do have difficult times as adults too. No, not the stereotype where they in turn molest boys, but amongst other things reliving old fears. Throw the animal in jail.

[griking]

So what I want to know is whether Justin Timberlake was a "giver" or a "receiver"