Backstreet Boys AJ McLean lifts lid on real persona he goes by with ex-bandmates

30 December 2023 , 15:46

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AJ revealed his real persona (Image: Getty Images)

AJ McLean has introduced the real persona he goes by when he's not working.

The former Backstreet Boy is best known as AJ and was part of the hit 90s boyband with Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with hits like Backstreet's Back Alright, I Want It That Way and As Long As You Love Me, but sadly split in 2006.

AJ has remained in the public eye, performing on Dancing With The Stars and hosting a TV show called Fashion Hero, but he revealed that when the cameras aren't rolling, he likes to leave "AJ the Backstreet Boy" behind. He exclusively told us: "You need to be your true, authentic self. And that's what I'm dealing with today in my personal life is you know, AJ is a Backstreet Boy, cool.

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AJ asked the boys to call him Alexander when they aren't working (Getty Images)

"Great. That's a persona. It's not who I am. It doesn't define me," he added. "Alexander is who I am, who I was born as. It's my name."

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AJ continued: "That is who I am. To the point where I've told my bandmates, I've told my friends, 'Hey, when I'm not working, call me Alex, you know, that's who I really am.'"

The candid revelation comes after he spoke about his time on DWTS and how he learned that he thrives off a live audience, after years of performing for huge crowds with the band. Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem Chigvintsev were announced as the winners, while Catfish host Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson placed second, rapper Nelly and Daniella Karagach placed third, and actress Justina Machado and Sasha Farber placed fourth, during his season.

AJ rose to fame in the Backstreet Boys (Getty Images)

He feels he got the raw deal on DWTS (Corbis via Getty Images)

AJ revealed that there was no live audience due to the pandemic, which he thinks hindered his star power and ability. He explained: "I feel like unfortunately, I got the raw deal when I did my season, because it was one of the first shows to come back during the peak of COVID. We had no live audience and I thrive off of the energy of a crowd.

"So when you can hear a pin drop in there, it just wasn't the same. And literally the season right after mine, back to back to normal, which that season, in my opinion, was probably one of the most incredible seasons I've ever seen."

Lauren Gordon