Former member of N'Sync, Lance Bass, has revealed that he was inappropriately touched by a pedophile during his boy band days.
Lance Bass had opened up about that experience at the set of Wednesday's all-new Meredith Vieira Show. According to E!Online, The panel was talking about Ashley Judd's revelation that she was harassed by studio executive when the former N'Sync member remarked that it happens to men as well, then he described his story. "It's a two-way street," he said.
"It had happened to me when I was 16 or 17-years-old. When we started, there was someone that we worked with that was inappropriately touching us," Lance continued. "I wasn't even aware then, at 16, that this guy was a pedophile and he was touching me. Oddly, I didn't feel victimized at the time because I was very aware of it but it happened to us too."
Then he was asked by fellow panelist Megan Colarossi if he said anything at that time. His response was, "No. I mean with the guys we would talk about it. We would kind of joke about it, but it's not a joking thing." According to Daily Mail, Lance did not reveal the name of his offender but he said, "But as a kid, it was just odd. I am glad that we were aware of it and we didn't feel victimized at the time."
After Lance Bass mentioned that the offender was someone they have worked some could not help but conclude it was their former band manager, Lou Pearlman. Back in 2007, Vanity Fair published "Mad About the Boys", a story that mentioned allegations of sexual misconduct against the band's former manager Lou Pearlman. In the said publication, it was mentioned that parents of one of the Backstreet Boys complained.
But in the case of Lance Bass, it doesn't look like it was Pearlman. The singer reportedly speaks warmly of the former manager and said he only went as far as grabbing their arms, feeling their muscles and asking if they were working out. Currently, Pearlman is behind bars for embezzlement of funds but he denies allegations of sexual misconduct.
Many were suprised with Lance Bass' revalation of having been sexually harassed. Even if he had chosen not to name that person, some praises him for bringing awareness that it indeed happens in to both men and women.
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