{"id":622247,"date":"2024-05-29T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/fallen-idols-team-on-aaron-carters-cautionary-tale-and-nick-carter-fan-loyalty\/"},"modified":"2024-05-29T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T03:00:00","slug":"fallen-idols-team-on-aaron-carters-cautionary-tale-and-nick-carter-fan-loyalty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/fallen-idols-team-on-aaron-carters-cautionary-tale-and-nick-carter-fan-loyalty\/","title":{"rendered":"#\u2018Fallen Idols\u2019 Team on Aaron Carter\u2019s \u201cCautionary Tale\u201d and Nick Carter Fan Loyalty"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n The second night of Investigation Discovery\u2019s Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter<\/em> <\/a>docuseries<\/a> wasted no time before diving into Aaron Carter\u2019s mental health struggles and deeper into the allegations of sexual assault against Backstreet Boys frontman Nick Carter. <\/p>\n

\n The final two episodes of the four-part docuseries featured interviews with Aaron Carter\u2019s ex-girlfriend, Lina Valentina, and his ex-fianc\u00e9e, Melanie Martin, whom he had a child with before he died in November 2022. Nick Carter\u2019s ex-girlfriend, Kaya Jones, was also interviewed about her public support for Melissa Schuman, a former member of the pop girl group Dream, who was the first person to accuse Nick Carter of sexual assault publicly. <\/p>\n

\n The third episode opened with a recording of a phone conversation between Aaron Carter and Schuman. In it, the \u201cI Want Candy\u201d singer tells Schuman he had been seeing everything that had been happ<\/a>ening to her since she came forward, and he felt compelled to reach out but also a responsibility to protect his brother. <\/p>\n

\n It wasn\u2019t long before he began to publicly speak out against his older brother in support of the women who accused the Backstreet Boys member of sexual assault. What has followed is years of cyberbullying for alleged victims Schuman, Ashley Repp and Shay Ruth, as well as the late Aaron Carter, whose relationship with his brother was forever changed after he sided with the women before trying to take it back years later. <\/p>\n

\n Fandom loyalty and toxicity were some of the things Fallen Idols<\/em>\u2018 executive producer Michael Hirschorn and showrunner Elissa Halperin wanted to explore in the docuseries, specifically about how social media<\/a> elevates things to a new level. <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWe were very much struck by the degree to which, even eight years into #MeToo, so many women are fiercely refusing to believe that anything about their idols could be less than perfect. Add into that what I\u2019d call the \u2018team sports\u2019 aspect of social media, and it becomes very difficult to get viewers to see the shades of grey in any controversy,\u201d Hirschorn tells The Hollywood Reporter<\/em>. \u201cEspecially with Aaron, we want viewers to take internet trolling seriously. It\u2019s not as simple as just getting off social media. Trolling extends into real life in profound and unsettling ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n Below, Hirschorn, Halperin and ID president Jason Sarlanis open up further about their ethical conversations surrounding including Aaron Carter in Fallen Idols<\/em> when he\u2019s no longer alive, the decision to feature interviews with Backstreet Boys superfans and more.<\/p>\n

\n ***<\/p>\n

\n Having made this docuseries, how do you now feel about Nick Carter?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n MICHAEL HIRSCHORN<\/strong> One of the things that we brought to this and still feel now is a lot of empathy for him. And I think one of the things that was really important in making this documentary was that we approach everybody in it with a level of respect and empathy, and to give each of them an opportunity to make sure that their voice is heard.<\/p>\n

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Melissa Schuman, one of Nick Carter\u2019s accusers, in Fallen Idols<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n How did you go about reaching out to Melissa, Shay and Ashley to come forward about what they went through?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> Well, that was done initially by Natasha [Bowler, a British producer who had been working on a project about the #MeToo movement in music and introduced the Fallen Idols<\/em> team to the three survivors in the docuseries]. She initially filmed with them before we did a deal with her in Las Vegas in \u201922. She had a high level of trust with them. So, when she brought the project to us, it was really on us to rebuild and re-earn the trust they had handed off to her. There were a lot of conversations with Melissa and her father, [Jerome Schuman] \u2014 who is somebody that she relies on and trusts \u2014 with Ashley and with Shay, and those are tricky, sensitive conversations. Then, when Elissa came on, we did it all over again. <\/p>\n

\n From my point of view, it was crucial to be empathetic and fair, but also scrupulously honest with them and make sure they understood that we\u2019re an objective third party in that we want to give them a platform and a forum to say what they want to say, and we\u2019re very comfortable that we conveyed the essence of what they wanted to say accurately. But then it was incumbent on us to make sure that if the Nick Carter camp \u2014 and we were in close contact with Nick Carter camp, even though Nick himself declined to be interviewed \u2014 had an opportunity to respond, that we were representing and weighing those responses in a thoughtful way. And that was really tricky. And the especially tricky part, which I\u2019m sure that\u2019ll come up in a bit, is the Aaron piece, and how to really fairly tell that story.<\/p>\n

\n Outside of the accusers, how doid you decide who to interview and feature in the docuseries?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n ELISSA HALPERIN<\/strong>\u00a0When I\u2019m approaching material like this, I want to take a 360-degree look. I want anyone who has a stake on all sides of the story and an important perspective to have the opportunity to speak, and I think we made real efforts to do that and to really have a cross-section of perspectives.<\/p>\n

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Melanie Martin, Aaron Carter\u2019s ex-fianc\u00e9e, in Fallen Idols<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Warner Bros. Discovery<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n What was the thought process \u2014 and you touched on this already a little bit \u2014 behind including Backstreet Boys superfans who said they didn\u2019t believe Melissa or any of Nick\u2019s other accusers?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HALPERIN<\/strong> One of the reasons why we decided to reach out to Backstreet Boys superfans is because I think they\u2019re part of the story. Nick and the Backstreet Boys have had an extremely dedicated fan base for 30 years and their unwavering dedication is a part of this story. And we felt that it was important to represent. <\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> The Backstreet Boys Army really is an army. If you think of some of the KPOP supergroup fandoms, Backstreet Boys\u2019 fandom is pretty large, pretty fierce and pretty passionate. And what sort of fun about it is that these are people that began being superfans in their teens and now are still superfans in their 30s and even 40s. <\/p>\n

\n JASON<\/strong>\u00a0SARLANIS<\/strong> When you watch the documentary, you see that elements of this BSB Army become a very significant part of the story itself and how the relationship between the two brothers evolved.<\/p>\n

\n You mentioned that Nick declined to be interviewed, and it was noted in the docuseries. Have you had any other communications with the Carter family, besides their cousin, John Spaulding, who was featured in Fallen Idols<\/em>? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> We had ongoing and continue to have communications with the Nick Carter camp. Journalistically, if there were allegations that were made, the things that were contended by some of the women or other people we spoke to, we asked for responses from the Carter camp. At every point, we have also included legal documents as part of a resource for people who want to dig more deeply into the project and want to learn more, because there\u2019s a significant paper trail of charges and counter-charges. <\/p>\n

\n What makes this project really unique \u2014 I can\u2019t think of another one that\u2019s exactly like it \u2014 is that it\u2019s being made in the middle of a series of highly contentious court cases that involve initial charges, counter-charges, charges to the counter-charges and counter-charges to the counter-counter-charges. And that\u2019s pretty remarkable. And it both creates a robust paper trail that\u2019s really interesting to go through, but makes it very tricky terrain to navigate. So, as somebody who in a previous life was a magazine and news<\/a>paper editor and investigative reporter \u2014 Elissa has some of that background as well \u2014 we really brought a lot of that experience in history to this.<\/p>\n

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John Spaulding, a cousin of the Carter family, speaks about his relationships with Aaron Carter and Nick Carter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Warner Bros. Discovery<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n Here\u2019s my question about Aaron. What were the ethical conversations around exploring accusations around Aaron and diving into his mental health and addiction issues when he isn\u2019t around anymore to respond to them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HALPERIN<\/strong> Aaron is someone who has gone through a lot, and I think people really care about him and what happened to him, and there is a desire always when a celebrity, especially a former child star, kind of winds up in this tragic circumstance, to sort of understand what happened and reflect on that. That was something we wanted to look at \u2014 the complexities of all the things he was going through. The idea that 25 years ago, these two young men were these idols on top of the world, and here we are, 25 years later. I think to understand how that happened, and the cycles of abuse within that family where three siblings are actually no longer with us, felt important to examine. <\/p>\n

\n SARLANIS<\/strong> Aaron was very open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health in his own public way. When you think about the impact this young man had on millions of fans who adored him, if his story can act as a bit of a cautionary tale to any of them who are struggling in their own ways with substance abuse, mental health issues with unhealthy family dynamics, then, I think, telling his story is worth it.<\/p>\n

\n How big of a part do you think the Carter family dynamics played in everything that\u2019s panned out for these boys and their siblings and cousins? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HALPERIN<\/strong> I think we can say from Nick and Aaron\u2019s cousin directly, John Spaulding \u2014 who we interviewed \u2014 the family dynamics played a huge role in what wound up happening.<\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> There\u2019s this very powerful scene, where Aaron puts the knife to his head.<\/p>\n

\n HALPERIN<\/strong> When he was starring in Seussical<\/em>, there was an anecdote that was told to us by his former manager that was just really striking to all of us in the way that his family responded to such a serious, what we perceived to be, a cry for help.<\/p>\n

\n SARLANIS<\/strong> I think for two young men that lived their lives so much in the public spotlight, there are still elements about their family background that have never come to light until this documentary that, I think, will be eye-opening for the audience and for the fan base. <\/p>\n

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Nick Carter and Aaron Carter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chad Buchanan\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n We\u2019ve seen this with other musicians, where fans cannot see their idols as anything but perfect. What do you make of that after working on this doc?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> We were very much struck by the degree to which, even eight years into #MeToo, so many women are fiercely refusing to believe that anything about their idols could be less than perfect. Add into that what I\u2019d call the \u201cteam sports\u201d aspect of social media, and it becomes very difficult to get viewers to see the shades of grey in any controversy.<\/p>\n

\n HALPERIN<\/strong> I don\u2019t want to speak for all fans, but there\u2019s definitely a big component of that at play here, and it was a reminder of how personal our connections are to celebrities and music, particularly the ones we fell in love with as kids.<\/p>\n

\n Fandom loyalty and toxicity are explored, with some taking to social media with death threats because someone they idolize was, in their mind, was attacked. How did you hope to address that in the docuseries?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> Very much so. Especially with Aaron, we want viewers to take internet trolling seriously. It\u2019s not as simple as just getting off social media. Trolling extends into real life in profound and unsettling ways.<\/p>\n

\n There has been a recent wave of expos\u00e9 docs into famous figures. Often, they spark ramifications, whether professional or legal. What impact do you hope this doc will have for Nick and Aaron Carter when it comes to, respectively, accountability and legacy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> It\u2019s not our place to push for a particular outcome. It\u2019s our place to tell a true story fairly and with empathy.<\/p>\n

\n Last week, 50 Cent sold an investigative Diddy documentary to Netflix following a bidding war. Where will you point your lens next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n HIRSCHORN<\/strong> I\u2019m particularly interested in exploring the early days of reality TV, a time I was actively a part of as the head of programming at VH1. It was the Wild West back then, both fascinating and, at times, a bit cringe.<\/p>\n

\n All four episodes of <\/em>Fallen Idols\u00a0are streaming on Max<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The second night of Investigation Discovery\u2019s Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter docuseries wasted no time before diving into Aaron Carter\u2019s mental health struggles and deeper into the allegations of sexual assault against Backstreet Boys frontman Nick Carter. The final two episodes of the four-part docuseries featured interviews with Aaron Carter\u2019s ex-girlfriend, Lina Valentina, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":622248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Aaron-Carter-and-Nick-Carter-GettyImages-71421940-H-2024.jpg?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[79326,150323,94352],"class_list":["post-622247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-mediaa","tag-aaron-carter","tag-fallen-idols","tag-nick-carter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=622247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/622247\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/622248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=622247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=622247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=622247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}