Bone beaned by Bunny

Talk Radio News (5:30 p.m. January 9, 2000)

(snide announcer)

This city’s Battle of the Boy Bands will be taking a bizarre twist this evening as one member of the Backstreet Boys hits the stage in a solo concert.

Yes, AJ McLean, he’s the tattooed one, nickname Bone, will be strutting his stuff at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live. And so as not to send your teenage daughters into hysterics, he is trying, though not hard, to keep his identity secret by performing as a "British rocker" named Johnny Suede. I wonder how long he had to "bone" up on that accent (chuckle)?

But none of the group’s puerile fans were fooled and the singer, when he arrived at the site, was met with boos and signs threatening death to Johnny Suede for breaking up the Backstreet Boys.

Yes, the spirit of Woodstock ‘99 continues into the new millennium, oddly enough the title of the Backstreet Boys latest album….

Top 40 Music Radio News (6 p.m. January 9, 2000)

In entertainment news, one of Orlando’s own Backstreet Boys, AJ McLean, will be introducing his new persona to the world tonight. Johnny Suede, similar to Garth Brooks’ Chris Gaines, will perform at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live.

Protesters have been gathering outside the venue all day carrying placards that read "Quit Playing Games with my Backstreet Boys" and "Don’t Want Johnny Suede Back." One of the more imaginative signs that our news team saw read "Suede is Murder, Bone is Life." A takeoff on the famous ‘fur is murder’ campaign.

McLean expressed surprise at the reaction of fans, and stated, again, with an exasperated tone, that the "Backstreet Boys are NOT breaking up."

Local TV News (6:30 p.m. January 9, 2000)

Tonight, Orlando welcomes a new fixture to its entertainment constellation. The Hard Rock Live, located on the Universal Studios site, will be home to live concerts and musical spectacles, and will cement Orlando as a unparalleled entertainment center.

Hard Rock Live will kick off with a solo concert by AJ McLean, one of our hometown’s Backstreet Boys. McLean will perform under an alias: Johnny Suede.

(footage of Brian, Nick and Howie arriving)

The other members of the famous group showed up to show support for their compadre.

(microphone in their faces)

"Evening, gentlemen," reporter

"Hello," Brian

"Hi. How we doin’?" Howie D.

"How does it feel to be at home?" reporter

"I love to resign in Orlando," Nick

"So what do you think of this new venue?" reporter

"My name was B-Rok, and I’ll be rocking your house," Brian, with goofy look on face.

Nick and Howie exchange a look.

"I think its time for us to go in," Nick says quickly.

(as the three move towards the door)

Brian starts singing…. "Its time to go to work. What kind of work? Hard work, hunh?"

Top 40 Music Radio News (10 p.m. January 9, 2000)

"The Johnny Suede concert held earlier this evening ended tragically as singer AJ McLean was rushed to Orlando General Hospital after sustaining a head injury. Information is sparse at present, but our news team will keep listeners posted…"

Orlando Sentinel: Bone beaned by Bunny

In what could only be described as a freak accident, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean was hospitalized after being hit by a toy bunny, during his solo concert last night in Orlando.

The "Beanie Baby" bunny, thrown by a fan, sailed over the crowd and hit McLean in the forehead as he was doing one of his more complicated dance routines.

In the shocked silence as McLean tumbled to the ground, fellow group mate, Brian Littrell, could be clearly heard to remark, "looks like a field goal to me, Bob." This was perhaps a reference to the way McLean had both arms in the air at the time of the incident.

While many in the audience reacted in disbelief, the two women involved were seen to clap hands together and yell, "tag time." An unidentified woman, who was standing with them at the time, denied all knowledge of the two, despite some indication of familiarity as one of the two nodded to the streak of blood on McLean’s forehead and told her to "just pretend its ketchup."

Fellow band mates Kevin Richardson and Nick Carter rushed down on the scene to talk with the two women. One exclaimed "Thud. HMO" quickly paraphrasing the accident, though sources claim that she was not asking about McLean’s medical plan. The other women told Carter, "my Nicky, how you’ve grown. And what big feet you have." After a brief discussion, the two men escorted the women backstage. Richardson denied that they were arranging for either woman to be taken into police custody. Carter agreed, saying that the incident was "a Backstreet thing."

One of the two women was heard to remark that that Richardson and Carter made a nice couple, which caused the usually taciturn older Backstreet Boys to laugh and reply, "no diggity."

Howie Dorough, the popular group’s Sweet D, quickly took control of the situation, saying that this was an unexpected incident, however, over the years the Boys had experienced worse problems for example falling off stages, losing their pants and "stuff like that."

Littrell, known as the shyest of the Backstreet Boys, nodded and said "put a name in a circle, not a heart, because a heart can be broken but a circle lasts forever." Many on the scene found Littrell’s comments enigmatic, and asked if he was okay. "No, I’m just playin’," Littrell replied, though Carter, who had returned to assist his groupmates, quickly put in "yo, Brian, stop lying."

Carter insisted that his friend’s strange behavior owed itself more to him hitting Littrell with a basketball in a quick game the two played that afternoon. Carter chuckled, saying that that there was a rash of "beanings" going around. Littrell nodded and replied "bean there, done that."

Dorough winked, and asserted that Littrell’s conduct had nothing at all to do with comedian Chris Rock’s announcement earlier that day that pop moppet of the moment, Britney Spears, was pregnant by an as yet unnamed ‘bad’ Backstreet Boy.

Littrell’s girlfriend, Leighanne Wallace could not be reached for comment on Spears’ allegations, though sources close to the actress stated that she had been muttering "I’m going to it that baby one more time" all day.

In a related story, Amanda Latona, McLean’s on-again-off-again girlfriend is in serious, but stable, condition in Orlando General Hospital after the brakes on her car failed earlier today. Doctors are less concerned with the head injury and more worried about the impact of her deflated silicone breast implants. "That much silicone in the bloodstream can have a serious impact on a person’s personality," one doctor noted. Only Nick Carter could be reached for comment on this, and said that Latona never really had a personality to begin with.

Denise McLean, AJ’s mother, was more concerned by Latona’s accident and urged that the woman be placed in a complete body cast until her sprained wrist was fully healed. Hospital officials stated that this was unnecessary, however Ms. McLean insisted that it was best not to take any chances and that Latona should stay in the immovable cast for at least six months, or until her son over his interest in her.

National Enquirer: A Nurse’s Backstreet Tale

Irma Muldoon was on duty the night that pop sensation AJ McLean was brought into Orlando General Hospital after sustaining a head injury during his solo concert, and told the Enquirer of the strange conversations that occurred.

"McLean came to soon after his arrival, and was surprised at his change in surroundings. Fortunately his group mate Kevin Richardson was on hand to quickly explain the evening’s events.

AJ was shocked by the story and I heard him exclaim quietly "how am I going to tell my mom?"

The rest of the Boys arrived shortly thereafter. Howie was holding a video camera, recording AJ’s recovery and introduced the two women who had been the instigators of the incident. One of them seemed reticent about talking to the man she had injured, but Nick Carter told her she made a "good present" and that he was sure that by now McLean had "noticed her."

I was shocked to discover that one of the women was Canadian. We get a lot of Canadians here in Florida and I have always found them to be nice people. Even Richardson remarked that "Canadians have this cute little accent, eh?" and that they have supported the band since the beginning.

Carter had also retrieved the toy that had caused the trouble and constantly waved it in front of AJ, asking if he could keep it because he didn’t have that beanie baby in his collection yet.

AJ ignored him and concentrated on his discussion with his close friend, Howie D, about the video camera. I recall McLean pushing some button combination on the machine and telling Howie, "you see Howie that’s how you gotta do it. Howie? Howie? Yo, yo, D!" To which Howie responded "yo, why you gotta diss like that for?"

Howie seemed a little upset and hurried from the room. AJ followed him, hoping to reassure his friend, I’m sure. Howie finally ducked into a washroom, saying "this is where it ends, all right? You can’t follow me in here, okay?"

By this time we were all used to the Boys’ antics, so we weren’t too surprised when Kevin and Nick accidentally locked themselves in a broom closet. The two men had obviously tried hard to get out of the cramped space as both were flushed and disheveled when security finally managed to unlatch the door.

Eventually the doctor came in and said that he needed to check Mr. McLean’s head. Kevin began ushering everyone out the room, saying that he didn’t want to see that, because he was sure that there "was a lot of mould" in there.

After his examination, the doctor insisted that McLean stay overnight for observation, but also mentioned that there was a large gathering of fans and well-wishers congregating in the hospital’s main lobby. The Boys discussed the problem, fearing for the safety of the two women involved. A solution was quickly reached: Richardson would stay behind and explain, in his usual longwinded and slow talking fashion, why his nickname was "Pumpkin," ensuring that AJ got some sleep. The others would leave together and Littrell said that he would "push Nick out first ‘cause all the girls go after him."

I must say, it was a funny evening, but it was wonderful to see what a strong friendship those five men have….."

Orlando Sentinel: Boys rib Bone

Proving once again that a sense of humor keeps them strong, members of O-town’s Backstreet Boys put their colleague AJ McLean through some good-natured ribbing at a press conference earlier today.

McLean, recovering from a slight head injury obtained at his "Johnny Suede" concert last night, ignored the row of stuffed rabbits that band mates Brian Littrell and Nick Carter had placed in the front row, and took his seat at the head table.

Only to jump up again to reveal a set of yellow Easter Bunny ears that had been placed on his chair.

"Oh oh. AJ found hats," fellow Backstreeter Howie Dorough laughed.

"Yes he did," McLean growled in response.

"I think we’re in trouble," Dorough noted to Kevin Richardson, who was laughing uproariously.

"I think we are," McLean muttered, then directed his attention to the assembled media.

He was surprising upbeat after his ordeal, saying that it was a small accident and that he did, in no way, blame the fans involved, both of whom were in attendance. He promised that another concert would be scheduled as soon as possible so that Johnny Suede could complete his debut performance.

McLean was asked if he was surprised that his attackers had been female. "Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. The answer is yes" was his response.

If anything his ire was saved for his group mate Nick Carter, who kept pulling the bunny toy that had caused the incident out of his jacket and mimed throwing it at the singer.

Not to be outdone the other Boys started to hum, Richardson reminding them that they were to sing "in the key of AJ," and then broke into an a capella version of "Here comes Peter Cottontail."

McLean responded with the dry comment, "I hate clowns, they freak me out."

This reporter asked the Boys if they were happy with the way that McLean’s solo career had been so summarily ended. Richardson shook his head, saying that they had really "wanted it the cheesy meat way."

McLean noted that spending so much time with his fellow group members was enough to drive himself crazy. Once again Richardson popped in with a quick response: "hey, isn’t that n’stink?"

After the arrival of a person in a bunny costume, carrying a bouquet of get-well balloons, McLean admitted defeat, telling reporters that he had nothing further to say other than that he was fine and he wanted to get some breakfast.

Even this comment seemed to set off the group’s easy camaraderie as Dorough and Littrell broke into a discussion of whether it was better to be the "breakfast burrito man" (Dorough) or the hush puppie king (Littrell).

Dorough told reporters that the Boys’ pranks had been orchestrated by Nick Carter, smiling and saying that "there was DisneyWorld, Sea World, and Nick’s world."