O-Town Members Distance Themselves From Diddy: “We Have Nothing to Do With Him”

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In 2002, when O-Town concluded their third season of “Making the Band”, they were already enjoying two top 10 hits, had toured with Britney Spears, and were gearing up to release their second album, considering the series as a thing of the past. Little did they know that a new version of the show, spearheaded by Sean “Diddy” Combs (who was later disgraced), which premiered several months later, would have a significant impact on them.

Currently, the band is approaching its 25th anniversary since their inception on a musical reality show. However, they are encountering reputational harm, reluctance from booking agents for shows, and cancellation of a significant event due to their connection with Diddy through “Making the Band”. Interestingly, it was another controversial music executive – Lou Pearlman (who passed away) – who oversaw the band’s episodes on the show, and they had no further involvement with the series once Diddy took charge.

Erik-Michael Estrada, aged 45, states, ‘We’ve been saddled with our own infamous producer/manager [Pearlman], who we got from our adaptation of Making the Band, and now another iteration and its tycoon is causing us problems.’ It’s unfortunate that, years after the brand was transferred to him, our livelihood is still being affected in such a way.

Following their reunion in 2011 (with Ashley Parker Angel absent), Estrada, Jacob Underwood, Trevor Penick, and Dan Miller have been active as a group, producing two albums (such as “Lines & Circles” in 2014 and “The O.T.W.N. Album” in 2019), touring, organizing events, acting in the horror movie “Dead 7”, and expanding their fanbase known as “Townies”. However, they shared with The Hollywood Reporter that their reputation and financial stability have been negatively impacted by Diddy’s arrest in September on charges including racketeering and sex trafficking. Consequently, a lucrative contract for a major gaming company’s end-of-year party was cancelled.

According to Matt Rafal from Universal Attractions Agency, the corporate events that O-Town typically performs at are their most attractive options for groups. However, one offer was withdrawn because some people thought the group was linked to Diddy. We clarified that O-Town’s ‘Making the Band’ had no connection to Diddy, but the company was still concerned that attendees might get confused.

As a fan excitedly sharing insights, I’ve noticed a wave of queries and apprehension arising among talent buyers, particularly in relation to ticket categories such as fairs, theme parks, and city-funded events, following the recent Diddy news. This is according to Rafal’s additional comments.

The team is additionally seeing their likeness appear on social media posts concerning Diddy’s allegations, and their name has been mentioned in news articles pertaining to the controversy as well.

Underwood highlights that we’re the sole group from Making the Band not connected to him,” he says, emphasizing that they’ve never crossed paths with Diddy. “The more people mix us up with a Diddy band and share our images with his narrative, the more it works against us. We earn our living through touring, and we can’t afford for [bookers] to search us online and find the latest Diddy sensationalism instead of our own information.

Although they continue to appreciate the program that introduced them, Estrada notes that subsequent versions of “Making the Band” seemed more about Puff Daddy (Diddy) than spotlighting talented groups like Danity Kane. He thinks the alleged power misuse displayed by Diddy on camera provided a glimpse into the character he’s been accused of having.

During his visits to Diddy’s New York parties, Estrada gained a peek into the rapper’s personality.

He remembers there was an exciting, somewhat scandalous vibe. He often nudged others to explore their wilder selves, but I personally didn’t see any such instances. It wasn’t until my move to L.A. that I began hearing tales of the wilder parties associated with Diddy. Thankfully, I can honestly say to my fiancé that I never participated in any late-night versions of a Diddy party.

Despite the disappointment the “All or Nothing” band members feel about the recent consequences, Estrada expresses deeper concern for those who have been significantly impacted by Diddy in the long term. He acknowledges that they can’t claim to be victims because others have endured terrible actions from this person and carry emotional scars as a result. “We may face financial and booking difficulties,” he admits, “but they grapple with emotional turmoil. We need to bear these challenges and press on.

O-Town has experienced challenging times before, such as dealing with legal issues from Motown Recordings or working alongside Pearlman, who is known for creating shows like “Making the Band” in an attempt to recreate the success of his past boy bands – the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Notably, both these bands have sued Pearlman for fraudulent activities and false representations. Additionally, there were rumors suggesting that he may have acted improperly with underage individuals.

In Netflix’s documentary titled “Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam,” Estrada stated that he didn’t observe anything to substantiate those rumors, but there were some questionable actions. Furthermore, he mentioned that O-Town had significant worries regarding Pearlman’s ongoing legal issues.

Estrada expresses his gratitude to THR for the individuals who kept O-Town on alert due to Pearlman’s questionable actions. “We held discussions with people who had experienced similar situations with Lou and the accusations against him,” he explains. “This made us vigilant for any suspicious behavior. However, once we were signed, our schedules were so packed that there was no room for anything inappropriate.

Ultimately, the likes of Pearlman and Diddy have only made O-Town stronger, says Estrada.

I often find myself wishing that more people would realize that ‘Making the Band’ was essentially the precursor to shows like ‘O-Town’ and paved the way for music reality television in America. It laid the foundation for programs such as ‘The Voice’ and ‘American Idol’. Unfortunately, the actions of one person have cast a shadow over this truth, which is that four individuals who met on this reality show are still thriving 25 years later.

Estrada notes that, just as we’ve experienced a ‘Lou’ situation before, we’re currently navigating a ‘Diddy.’ This is simply part of our career trajectory. In spite of the challenging ascents, we’ve managed to organize a thriving national tour with Pop 2000, start families, complete other projects, and deepen our connection with our fans. So when such disturbances arise, we can confidently say that we have the support of the people who truly matter.

The Townies, who are excited about upcoming O-Town music in 2025, will revive their Pop 2000 tour, which originally included members from LFO, *NSYNC, 98 Degrees, Ryan Cabrera, and BBMak. They will also play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cruise and mark Making the Band’s 25th anniversary, despite its controversial reputation. This is a significant milestone they wish to acknowledge for their fans.

Underwood, who’s 44, mentioned that we’re planning some cozy, more personal events,” he said. “These should prove to be enjoyable evenings filled with nostalgia as we celebrate our dedicated fanbase.

Estrada is performing alongside Kirkpatrick and Timmons in their “Boy Band Symphony” show at symphony halls. As he delves into fresh musical and business opportunities, he acknowledges the trap that up-and-coming artists can fall into when associating with figures like Pearlman or Diddy. However, he encourages them to maintain strong family ties, seek reliable partners, and establish their own brand instead of relying on others for success.

In the realm of business, as a mature individual, I’ve come to understand that not every dollar is beneficial. It’s crucial to thoroughly investigate the individuals you’re entering into partnership with. Many young people, much like us in the past, were eager to sign contracts that weren’t advantageous because we lacked bargaining power. It’s essential to cultivate your own strength and following. Today, record labels function more like tech companies than music enthusiasts, so if you choose that path, ensure you have legal representation!

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2025-01-14 23:39