For those who think that Boybands are a crime, you may be right. Lou Pearlman, the producer responsible for creating ‘N Sync, The Backstreet Boys and O Town is under investigation for violating child labor laws. 

The trouble started when Merrily Goodell, mother of two members of the failed Pearlman produced boyband Take 5, filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Labor. Florida authorities are investigating claims that Pearlman’s Trans Continental Entertainment violated child labor laws in the state while working with the groups cultivating their acts.  

Members of Take 5 allege that their rehearsals began at 6 a.m. each day and didn’t end until 8 p.m. According to the AP story one member claims, “their parents would buy them baby food for protein because Pearlman didn't give theme enough money for groceries.”

"Mr. Pearlman reminds me of the bully that runs around stealing kids' milk money," Goodell, mother of two Take 5 members was quoted as saying in a Much Music report . "You cower at his bullying behavior. It takes awhile, but one day you realize your life won't be worth living until you face off with him."

Pearlman calls the allegations preposterous and Scott Bennett, VP of Trans Continental Records is quoted by Much Music stating that, "Merrily Goodell is obviously fishing for something. Whether it's money or whether she's jealous or upset that her boys  didn't become rich and famous like some of the other bands Lou has worked with."

Most of Pearlman’s successful creations such as N Sync and the Backstreet Boys broke away from him after they found success. The last we heard about Pearlman future projects was that he plans to produce another music group based on the characters of the Archie comic book series, a formula that worked in 1969 when the single “Sugar” that was attributed to the cartoon characters became the best selling song of that year. There is also rumblings that Pearlman wishes to put together a girl group based on Josie and the Pussycats, however after the feature film based on those characters bombed at the box office last year, he may want to rethink that decision. 
 
 

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