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

Published: Jan 15 2025

By the conclusion of O-Town's third season of Making the Band in 2002, the boy band had racked up two top 10 hits, toured alongside Britney Spears, and was poised to release their second album, leaving the series behind them. Little did they foresee the ripple effects that would emerge months later with the debut of a new iteration of the show, helmed by the disgraced Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Now, as the group approaches its 25th anniversary since forming on the musical reality series, they're grappling with brand tarnishing, hesitant event bookers, and a significant event cancellation due to their association with Diddy through Making the Band. Ironically, their episodes were originally overseen by another disgraced music mogul, the late Lou Pearlman, and they hadn't been involved with the series once Diddy took the reins.

"We already inherited our own infamous producer/manager [Pearlman] from our version of Making the Band, and now another version and its mogul are affecting us," laments Erik-Michael Estrada, 45. "For our livelihood to be impacted so many years after the brand transitioned to him is truly unfortunate.

O-Town Members Distance Themselves From Diddy: “We Have Nothing to Do With Him” 1

Since Estrada, Jacob Underwood, Trevor Penick, and Dan Miller reunited in 2011 (without the original fifth member Ashley Parker Angel), the group has released two albums (2014's Lines & Circles and 2019's The O.T.W.N. Album), toured, hosted destination events, starred in the horror film Dead 7, and cultivated a loyal fanbase dubbed "Townies." However, they confide to The Hollywood Reporter that their image and livelihood have been tarnished by Diddy's September arrest on charges including racketeering and sex trafficking. The aftermath saw a lucrative contract for a year-end party with a major gaming company rescinded.

"The corporate events O-Town does tend to be the strongest offers for the group," says the band's agent, Matt Rafal of Universal Attractions Agency. "The offer was rescinded due to the perception that the group was tied to Diddy. We clarified that O-Town's Making the Band had no association with Diddy, but the company feared guests might be confused."

"Since the Diddy news, we've encountered questions and hesitation from numerous talent buyers, particularly for soft tickets like fairs and theme parks, as well as city-funded events," adds Rafal. The group is also finding their image plastered across posts about Diddy's charges and their name popping up in articles related to the scandal.

"Of all the bands in Making the Band, we're the only one not tied to him," underscores Underwood, who has never met Diddy. "The more people confuse us with a Diddy band and post our pictures alongside his story, the more it hurts us. We make a living from touring and can't afford for [bookers] to Google us and find the latest Diddy clickbait."

While they remain grateful for the show that brought them together, Estrada notes that subsequent seasons of Making the Band were more about "the Diddy show" than showcasing talented acts like Danity Kane. He believes the "power abuse" displayed by Diddy onscreen served as a glimpse into the person he's accused of being.

Estrada got a taste of Diddy's character while attending the rapper's New York parties at the time. "There was always a salacious energy," he recalls. "He encouraged people to unleash their wild side, but I never witnessed anything firsthand. It wasn't until I moved to L.A. that I started hearing about how wild things got. Thankfully, I can look my fiancé in the eye and swear I never attended any after-hours version of a Diddy party."

Although the "All or Nothing" singers are frustrated about the aftermath, Estrada feels a deeper sympathy for those long-term affected by Diddy. "I can't play the victim because there are people who have experienced atrocities from this person and are scarred for life," he says. "We have financial and booking stress, but they have emotional stress. We just have to bite the bullet and keep moving forward."

It wouldn't mark the premiere occasion where O-Town has navigated through turbulent times, whether grappling with legal battles waged by Motown Recordings or collaborating with Pearlman, the mastermind behind "Making the Band," an endeavor aimed at replicating the triumphs of his prior boy band ventures—the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Both these acts filed lawsuits against Pearlman, accusing him of fraud and misrepresentation. Furthermore, whispers persisted about the deceiver's inappropriate conduct with minors.

In Netflix's documentary, "Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam," Estrada revealed that while he hadn't personally witnessed anything to corroborate such rumors, there was indeed "some questionable conduct." He added that O-Town harbored "grave concerns" regarding Pearlman's legal entanglements. Estrada expressed gratitude to the "guardian angels" who kept O-Town vigilant against Pearlman's suspicious actions, noting, "We conferred with individuals who had dealt with Lou and the accusations levied against him. This heightened our awareness for any questionable activities. But once we were signed, our schedules were so jam-packed that there was no room for anything scandalous."

Ultimately, individuals like Pearlman and Diddy only fortified O-Town's resolve, according to Estrada. "I wish people would view 'Making the Band' and recognize it as O-Town's breakthrough and the trailblazing brand for music reality TV in the U.S. It laid the groundwork for shows like 'The Voice' and 'American Idol.' Sadly, the deeds of one individual have tarnished the reality—that four individuals met on a reality show and are still going strong 25 years later."

"We've already encountered a Lou, and now we're dealing with a Diddy…this is the modus operandi of our career," Estrada continued. "Despite the arduous climbs, we've embarked on a successful national tour with Pop 2000, started families, ventured into other projects, and fortified our bond with our fans. So, when noise like this emerges, we stand tall with the people who matter most—our Townies."

And for the Townies, there's exciting news: they can anticipate fresh O-Town music in 2025. The group will also rekindle their Pop 2000 tour, featuring performers like LFO's Brad Fischetti, *NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick, Ryan Cabrera, BBMak, and Mark McGrath, and participate in events such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cruise, Ladyworld, Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, and Bobby Bones' Million Dollar Show. Despite the tarnished image of "Making the Band," they intend to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

"We'll be hosting a couple of smaller, intimate gigs, which will be delightful, nostalgic evenings celebrating how many fans we've gained," said Underwood, 44. Estrada is also embarking on a symphony hall tour with Kirkpatrick and 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons for their "Boy Band Symphony" show. As he continues to explore new musical and business ventures, he acknowledges how tempting it can be for aspiring artists to fall prey to figures like Pearlman or Diddy, but he urges them to stay close to their families, seek trustworthy associates, and build their brand independently.

"As a seasoned professional in the business world, I've learned that not all money is virtuous," he said. "You must thoroughly vet the individuals you intend to partner with. Many young people are like we once were—eager to sign unfavorable contracts because we lacked leverage. It's crucial to establish your leverage and fanbase independently. Record labels are now more akin to tech companies than musical connoisseurs, so if you choose that path, always have a lawyer by your side!"


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