Docuseries details celebrity sexual assault and drug abuse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Includes detailed verbal descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence. Dramatic reenactments of the events don't depict the alleged crimes. Survivors discuss their suffering and emotional trauma. There are several mentions of suicidal ideation.
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Detailed descriptions of alleged rape involving minor teenagers. As of the docuseries' release, the alleged perpetrator is in the middle of litigation to determine consequences. Specific sexual acts are described verbally in detail. On screen, there are reenactments that imply these events without nudity. The documentary also includes pop stars wearing clingy but not revealing outfits, and discusses the sexualization of young pop stars.
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Lots of logos present throughout (clothing brands, media companies, car companies, etc.).
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Documentary details Aaron Carter's struggle with substance abuse and addiction. His substance abuse leads to bad decisions and negative consequences, and ultimately his death. On-screen Carter is cigarette smoking, drinking to excess, and noticeably impaired. There are mentions of Carter's drug-of-choice (inhaling aerosols).
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The subjects of the documentary, Aaron and Nick Carter, are not positive role models. The sexual assault survivors who come forward and tell their story demonstrate bravery and integrity.
Diverse Representations
a little
Focuses on power imbalances as a wealthy, attractive, White man abuses his privilege. One of the film's interviewees is autistic and has cerebral palsy. The majority of the subjects are White and gender-balanced, with several female sexual assault survivors interviewed.
Explores alleged sexual crimes committed by a celebrity and critiques celebrity power. Series applauds survivors for coming forward, but also documents the personal ramifications for them doing so.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter is a docuseries about the troubled lives of Backstreet Boys frontman Nick Carter and his fellow pop star brother Aaron. The series explores Nick's alleged history of sexual assault and brother Aaron's struggle with substance abuse and addiction, which ultimately leads to his death. There are mature themes throughout, including several survivors giving detailed verbal descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence. The survivors also discuss the personal ramifications of coming forward with their stories, including suicidal ideation. On screen, there are reenactments that imply these events, without nudity. An autistic survivor recounts a slur said to her during her assault. On screen, Aaron Carter is shown smoking cigarettes, drinking to excess, and noticeably impaired.
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What's the Story?
FALLEN IDOLS: NICK AND AARON CARTER is a docuseries that explores the pop star brothers' rise to fame and separate downfalls. Older brother Nick escaped the troubled family household when an audition turned him into the frontman of the Backstreet Boys as a young teenager. Brother Aaron followed in his footsteps, becoming a solo pop sensation at 12. After several years of astronomical fame, both brothers turned to various vices. In Fallen Idols, three women give their accounts of Nick Carter's alleged pattern of sexual assault and the devastating consequences the assaults had on their lives. They describe being terrified to come out with their stories when they knew there would be a press frenzy and personal consequences. Eventually, they decide to sue Carter (as of the docuseries' release in May 2024, the cases were still pending). Fallen Idols also tells the story of Aaron's parallel narrative. The pressures of fame and his difficult upbringing led Aaron down a path of substance abuse. He makes a series of poor choices, and eventually his addiction leads to his death.
This docuseries is of greatest interest to millennials who came of age during the Backstreet Boys frenzy of the late 1990s. That said, teenagers into pop culture may be intrigued to learn about the pitfall of teen superstardom, and to ponder if today's celebrity machine is any better than the one depicted in Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter. The series lays out a compelling case in the court of public opinion against Nick Carter (though the real legal cases were still pending as of its release). Aaron's story is tragic, and seeing it put together in a timeline is pretty awful. Fallen Idols does touch on themes like generational trauma, the effects of fame, and the abuse of privilege and power. But some of the details play out more like tabloid fodder, and may only be interesting to those already invested in the Carters' stories.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the power our culture bestows upon celebrities, especially White male celebrities. How did Nick Carter allegedly exploit his power dynamic? What impact did the #metoo movement have?
How do the unnatural pressures of fame and the Carter brothers' tough upbringing affect your understanding of their trajectories?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
