65. Subtext: A Deal with the Devil: Lou Pearlman’s Boy Band Ponzi Scheme

Sociologist and author, Dr. Nicole Bedera, joins Kendra and Rich to discuss her new book, On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence. The book was released on October 1st, 2024, to critical and public acclaim, resonating with people across countless industries and landing in the Amazon Top 10 for higher education books. Nicole has been featured on top podcasts such as Now What? with Brooke Shields, The Waves, and Faith and Feminism with Meghan Tschanz. Her work has also been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Time Magazine, and Teen Vogue! More about Dr. Nicole Bedera Buy the book here: https://tinyurl.com/wrongsidebook Nicole’s Essay on survivors supporting Johnny Depp: https://tinyurl.com/survivorsjd Beyond Compliance, Nicole’s consulting firm: https://www.beyond-compliance-consulting.com If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

"Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades" was one of the breakout songs for Long Island band Brand New but it could just as easily be a description of their long running career. The dizzying heights the band had reached in the mid to late 2000’s all came crashing down in 2017 when allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct against singer Jesse Lacey were made public. In this episode Kendra and Rich dive into some of those allegations and how little the music landscape has changed since they came to light. REFERENCES Brand New Band Controversy & Jesse Lacey Allegations Explained (The Direct) Brand New Frontman Jesse Lacey Has Been Accused Of Sexual Misconduct With A Minor (UPROXX) Two Alleged Victims of Brand New’s Jesse Lacey Detail Years of Sexual Exploitation of Minors (Pitchfork) Brand New’s Jesse Lacey Issues Statement Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations (Pitchfork) Jesse Lacey Statement (Facebook) The Story of the Woman Who Accused Brand New’s Jesse Lacey of Soliciting Child Pornography (Vulture) If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

Wilmer Valderrama became a household name in the early 2000's as the character Fez on That 70's Show. At the same time he became a tabloid mainstay for his relationships with teenage Lindsey Lohan, Mandy Moore, and Demi Lovato. In this episode Kendra and Rich break down Valderrama's history of dating very young artists and why the entertainment industry so often seems to turn a blind eye to this behavior. CORRECTION: Tyga was 24 when he started hanging out with 16 year old Kylie Jenner, not 27. REFERENCES ‘That ‘70s Show’ Star Wilmer Valderrama’s Gross Howard Stern Interview (Rolling Stone) Demi Lovato Called Out ‘Gross Older Men’ Years After Dating A That 70s Show Star (stylecaster) Demi Lovato's '29' Stirs Talk of Wilmer Valderrama's Past Young Partners (Newsweek) Wilmer Valderrama Has A History Of Dating Much Younger Vulnerable Girls And Women (Little Things) If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠⁠https://www.thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

"Brody" worked her way up to manager at a popular music venue in her city. During her time there, she witnessed a number of egregious and illegal activities perpetrated by the owner. When she became vocal about what she had experienced, she was fired. In this episode, we discuss how power dynamics play into harassment and abuse, and the positives of finally speaking out. If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠⁠⁠https://thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

Lou Pearlman is best known for two things, launching the careers of some of the biggest pop artists of the 1990’s and being the mastermind behind one of the largest ponzi schemes in the history of the United States. In this episode of subtext Kendra and Rich break down both sides of Lou Pearlman and talk about how someone who seemingly did so many positive things for popular music also drastically altered the lives of almost every person he came in contact with for the worse. - REFERENCES Who Was Lou Pearlman? (People) Mad About The Boys (Vanity Fair) Lou Pearlman, Disgraced Backstreet Boys, ‘NSYNC Svengali, Dies at 62 (Billboard) Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam (Netflix, 2024) The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story (YouTube Originals, 2019) - If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠https://www.thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

Cydni spent ten years in a relationship with the singer of a popular band that became increasingly more abusive, both physically and mentally, before she removed herself from it in 2023. In this episode she talks about what caused her to ignore the red flags she noticed at the beginning of the relationship, the ways in which the abuse escalated, and what gave her the strength to overcome the abuse and end the relationship. If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠⁠https://thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

For almost a quarter of a century, Warped Tour was the can’t-miss festival of the year for teenage and young adult fans of punk rock and all its variations. In its later years, a slew of sexual assault allegations overshadowed the bands and camaraderie for which it initially stood. In this episode, Kendra and Rich break down the history of Warped Tour and how these accusations affected the tour’s legacy. - REFERENCES Everything we know about the sexual harassment allegations against Front Porch Step (Alt Press⁠) Warped Behavior: Sexual Violence On Tour (Medium) The Truth About Dahvie Vanity (tumblr) Warped Tour is over for good. Will the culture it created finally reckon with its demons? (Washington Post) Warped Tour to Hit the Road For Final Trek in 2018: Exclusive Interview With Founder Kevin Lyman (Billboard) US band Slaves deny Vans Warped Tour sexual assault accusations (BBC News) get sexual predators removed from the 2018 Vans Warped Tour lineup (change.org) The (Pseudo) Death of Warped Tour (The Kids Aren't Alright) Where the Girls Aren’t (Rookie) - If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: https://www.thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

Part 2: Michelle details the brutal and public rape she experienced, as a minor, by the singer of a well-known rock band. She also discusses how her story has been falsely represented in books and interviews by members of that band, and what her path to healing has looked like since that time. This is the second half of a two part interview. If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ - Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠ - Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠ - Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠ - enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠⁠https://thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

Michelle Rhoades came of age in the early days of the highly influential Hollywood punk and glam rock scene. In this episode, she talks about growing up in Los Angeles and how a chance encounter with the future singer of a famous rock band led to a harrowing, life-altering experience. This is the first half of a two part interview.- If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠ - Visit our website: ⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠ - Follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠ - Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠ - enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠https://thebadcopy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support

In 2009, Chris Brown made headlines when he viciously beat artist and singer Rihanna during a domestic dispute. After a brief hiatus, Brown continued his career without seemingly any setbacks. Fifteen years after the initial incident, Rich and Kendra discuss other examples of Brown engaging in domestic abuse and violent outbursts and the accolades and praise has received for his music.  - REFERENCES Chris Brown Checks into Rehab for Anger Management, Will Stay Up to Three Months (Complex) Chris Brown: Timeline of violence towards women - If you have been on the receiving end of harm from someone: be it artist, venue owner, audience member, or someone else and would like to share your story on a future episode, please reach out to us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thisisenoughpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/enough.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@enoughpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ enough. is a feature on Bad Copy: ⁠https://www.thebadcopy.com⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/enoughpodcast/support