Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, O-Town, And Others React To Lou Perlman’s Death

New details have been revealed about infamous boy band manger, Lou Pearlman’s death. As we previously reported over the weekend, Pearlman passed away on Friday August 19, 2016 at the age of 62. He died while in still in custody at a Federal Correction Institute in Texarkana Texas. Pearlman was serving a jail sentence for conducting one of the longest running ponzi schemes in American history. The former founder/manager/producer of such multi-platinum boy bands like Backstreet Boys,*NSYNC, and O-Town was convicted for stealing nearly 500 million dollars in various forms of business fraud. As we had mentioned in previous posts nearly every one of the music groups Pearlman had a hand in creating eventually found themselves entangled in legal troubles with him. These issues either led to court battles or the bands eventually disbanding.

Now that the news of his passing has made it out there into this week’s news cycle, new details are surfacing about Pearlman’s cause of death. TMZ.com has reported that Pearlman’s passing is due to heart problems. They have learned that he was recently transferred from his prison cell in Texas to a Miami hospital to have surgery, but died shortly before he was able to get that surgery. His medical records have revealed that Pearlman had a history of cardiac problems. The officially listed cause of death is natural causes.

Since the news of his passing members of the various boy bands he helped create have taken to social media to react with mixed emotions towards the news of his passing. Below you will find a compilation of tweets of various performers from each group sharing their feelings about Lou Pearlman.

Backstreet Boys:

Howie Dorough

Saddens me to hear the news of Lou’s death. Condolences go out to his family. Will always be grateful for the opportunity he gave to us.

— Howie D (@howied) August 21, 2016

 AJ. McLean

Many emotions at the news of Lou’s passing. Without Lou I wouldn’t have met my four brothers or had the opportunity of a lifetime. RIP.

— AJ McLean (@skulleeroz) August 21, 2016

*NSYNC :

Justin Timberlake

I hope he found some peace. God bless and RIP, Lou Pearlman.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) August 21, 2016

Chris Kirkpatrick

Mixed emotions right now, but RIP Lou Pearlman.

— Chris Kirkpatrick (@IamCKirkpatrick) August 21, 2016

Lance Bass

Word is that #LouPearlman has passed away. He might not have been a stand up businessman , but I (cont) https://t.co/nsczUEVOOQ

— Lance Bass (@LanceBass) August 20, 2016

Aaron Carter:

#LouPearlman my old manager died in prison… Rip Lou not the best business guy really at all but he did discover me karma is real

— KiD CaRTer (@aaroncarter) August 21, 2016

O-Town:

 Erik-Michael Estrada

Many reasons I’m sad about the news. Primarily because we should be celebrating the man for his musical accomplishments. Instead.. we’re not

— ERIK-MICHAEL ESTRADA (@iamerikestrada) August 21, 2016

That said – I’m sorry for all the families and lives affected by his choices.

— ERIK-MICHAEL ESTRADA (@iamerikestrada) August 21, 2016

But I’m forever thankful for my brothers in @OTownOfficial and for my extended family @backstreetboys @lfo and @nsync #anamericantragedy

— ERIK-MICHAEL ESTRADA (@iamerikestrada) August 21, 2016

Jacob Underwood

Hard to describe what I’m feeling.. He was always nice to me, even when he was stealing from me. RIP. https://t.co/Elyg4EgGHH

— Jacob Underwood (@JacobUnderwood7) August 21, 2016

Power and money are not our legacy. It’s the people we help, and the positive effect we have in the world. Praise God for life and love.

— Jacob Underwood (@JacobUnderwood7) August 21, 2016

Ashley Parker Angel

Love him or hate him, Lou gave many of us our start. It’s a shame he let greed get in his way. #RIP #LouPearlman pic.twitter.com/u91HAuflio

— Ashley Parker Angel (@ParkerAngel) August 21, 2016

LFO:

Brad Fischetti

God rest your soul Lou Pearlman

— Brad Fischetti (@bradfischetti) August 21, 2016

Pearlman’s shady business dealings were a large part of every one of these groups’ histories regardless of how successful each of them became without him. The Backstreet Boys discussed their issues with Pearlman at length as part of their 2015 documentary, Backstreet Boys Show Em What Your Made Of.

Backstreet Boys’ 2015 Interview About Lou Pearlman (Some Explicit Language)

The Seven Sees

These events were also profiled on a couple TV docu-series. The first of these came in 2008 with the CNBC show, American Greed, followed by a 2015 episode of Vanity Fair Confidential on Investigation Discovery.

Related Media 

Vanity Fair Confidential 2015 Promo “Mad About The Boys”

Investigation Discovery