Date: August 10, 2001
Source: Launch.com
(8/9/02 3 p.m. ET) -- Denise McLean, the mother of 23-year-old Backstreet Boy Alexander James "A.J." McLean, spoke to ABC's 20/20 about the turn of events, including the recent death of his grandmother, that led to her son entering a rehab clinic for alcohol abuse and depression. The candid interview is scheduled to air tomorrow night (August 10). Denise told 20/20 co-anchor Connie Chung that her son A.J. is a much different person in his private life than he is in his public one, saying A.J. the performer "makes all these pelvic thrusts and does all this stuff to drive the girls crazy. And A.J. is the one that got the tattoos, and A.J.'s the one that colors his hair."
On the other hand, as Denise said, "Alex is the complete opposite--the sweetest, most gentle person you could ever imagine. He's kind. He's got a heart of gold. He loves his family. He loves his puppies to death." Denise added that her son "got smothered by A.J. He just got lost in the hype, the drinking, the lifestyle, the fame."
Denise also explained to Chung that entering a rehab clinic was the best thing her son could have done for himself. "He called me two days after he was in, and I was absolutely amazed at the calmness in his voice," she said. "You could hear in his voice that he felt safe. He was where he needed to be." The Backstreet Boys (news - web sites) pushed back the return of their Black & Blue world tour to make sure that A.J. is in the best possible shape after his stay at the rehab facility. The tour will now resume on August 24 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
-- Jason Gelman, New York
