The following article contains references to substance misuse, suicide, and mental illness.
Few bands encapsulate the late ’90s zeitgeist like theBackstreet Boys.
led to the group amassing millions of fans the world over.
But throughout his multiple hardships, he has made room for self-improvement.
Moreover, he has devoted time to his own fans who have struggled as he did.
“To hear about all this negative, negative, negative really just upset me.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Call or text 988 or chat988lifeline.org.
“Without them who knows how I would have turned out,” he conceded.
“I sure don’t think I would be where I am now.”
And in time, McLean realized that he was not to blame for the acrimony between his parents.
The elder McLean made no attempt to contact his son.
Subsequently, this absence led to the youngster believing that he didn’t have a dad.
Curious, he decided to drive to Orlando to check out the address on the letter.
It was there that he was reunited with his father, who recognized him immediately.
“He gave me a big hug and started crying,” McLean said.
“It was really weird and emotional seeing him.”
In 2023, he toldPage Sixthat he had recently reconnected with his father.
The singer revealed that he underwent intensive trauma therapy, which helped him understand why his dad left.
His bandmate, Kevin Richardson, toldABC Newsthat he was worried McLean was self-medicating to treat his ongoing depression.
McLean partly attributes his substance misuse struggles to the pitfalls of fame itself.
When he found stardom, he started hanging around people who were using drugs.
Desperate to fit in, he began spiraling into substance misuse.
In 2003, he revealed toOprahthat he’d overdosed twice, but was in recovery.
“And when she said that to me, that was it.
I felt disgusting.”
In 2023, he announced that he had been sober for two years.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
he recalled to The People.
“I tried not to take too much notice but it was upsetting.”
These experiences led to him suffering from low self-esteem throughout his life.
To hell with everything!'"
These days, McLean is in a much better place in regard to his self-image.
In 2023, he underwent intensive outpatient treatment for depression, anxiety, and deep-rooted trauma.
“I think when [A.J.
’s grandmother] passed away, that just sent it over the edge,” Kevin Richardson toldMTV.
Since Ursula’s death, McLean has been frequently paying tribute to her in his own special ways.
“We’ve all experienced great losses, so this song really touches us personally.”
“We were on super grueling tour schedules,” McLean toldThe Irish Times.
“We were not spending any time with family.
And that wasn’t showing up in our bank accounts.
Something wasn’t right.
Then you’d look at your bank balance.
Brian was the one that realized.”
“I kind of thought that there might have been some strange things going on,” she conceded.
“But you just didn’t know.”
However, there is no evidence that Pearlman abused McLean.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
Visit theRape, Abuse & Incest National connection websiteor contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
“I’m freaking out,” he recalled on the podcast.
“I don’t have any kind of weapon except a baseball bat …
I crept out of my bedroom and I see this black silhouette at the bottom of my stairs.”
However, he realized that it was his brother who had broken into the house.
“You know when it’s possible for you to just tell something is wrong?
“I’ve been down that road,” he said.
“I’ve come out the other end …
I am definitely worried about him.
I love him like he’s my little brother.”
And he showed up,” he said.
McLean was filmed hugging Nick, who was in tears following a poignant tribute by Kevin Richardson.
But in April 2023, the couple announced that they were temporarily separating after 11 years of marriage.
The couple had reportedly been living apart months before their trial separation.
“I wasn’t sober or ready to get sober.
She was dealing with her own s*** … “I never wanted to be a bad father.”
The pair were undergoing couple’s therapy as of November 2023.
