We've received a number of emails asking if the
auction items listed at the URL below (white snakeskin
suits from first leg of the Black & Blue Tour -- even
though it lists them as being from the Millennium
Tour) are truly going to benefit the Just Within Reach
Foundation, NCOC, HHC, JNN and DLF. People seem to be
particularly concerned that the charities didn't know
of this auction. We can confirm for sure that at least
JWR, NCOC and DLF did not know about the auction until
it was brought to our attention by the fans. People
are further concerned that the Boys' charitable
foundations were not listed by name on the auction
page. And they are confused as to why the items are
incorrectly listed as being from the Millennium Tour
when they are indeed from the Black & Blue World Tour.
Another cause for concern -- the Certificate of
Authenticity comes from the auctioneer, rather than
the Backstreet Boys organization. And a final point to
this end, it appears that the final bid for all these
pieces was $2775.60. Divided by five charities, that
is $555.12 per costume. Past records show that single
hat props alone have garnered more than that amount;
an amount that could go to benefit very important work
on behalf of the environment, Lupus research, cardiac
operations and juvenile diabetes research and
programs.
According to Kevin and the DLF, they are both unaware
of any of these online auctions and do not know how
they have acquired these wardrobe items. Kevin has
asked that we look into the matter. In doing so, we
were put in touch with a representative from
Sothebys.com as well as a rep from
Entertainmentrarities. Sothebys.com has a
well-established record for being a reputable auction
organization. However, we have not yet received enough
information from their item provider,
Entertainmentrarities, to confirm and authenticate the
items listed OR the manner in which they were
acquired. JWR requested written documentation or
copies of the agreement for such items to be auctioned
and have not yet received such documentation. We also
requested the name of the person within the Boys'
management (then, The Firm) who approved the auction,
but have not yet received that name either. Also, upon
requesting the name of the item provider, we were told
that Entertainmentrarities is not at liberty to give
the name of the provider without their prior
permission, which has not been received as of this
email. We were told this morning that the provider
himself would contact us by phone, which at the time
of this writing, has not occurred.
Though we trust Sothebys to be an upstanding
organization and believe they will indeed provide
contributions to the foundations based on their
integrity, sadly, because we lack documentation, we
don't feel as though we can guarantee for you that the
proceeds from this auction will go to the chosen
charities. Nor can we guarantee that the items are
authentic. But even more important, we are not able to
confirm that these items were legitimately acquired
and provided with permission by the Boys, who as we
understand, own their wardrobe items.
As confirmed by The Firm and Kevin, the wardrobe cost
is divided by 5 and each Boy pays for his own wardrobe
items. They are his at the end of the tour to do with
as he pleases. Most of the Boys keep their wardrobe
for their charity auctions or for submission to
museums and such. However, some desired items have
come up missing, such as Kevin's leather cowboy hat
used during the first leg of the Black & Blue Tour and
the chain-link top Kevin wore during the tour. You may
or may not recall that both of these items later
showed up on an online auction as did many items of
the other Boys' wardrobes. We are not able to
determine how or why these items were not forwarded to
the Boys, but that is being looked into now.
Please share this information with anyone and everyone
who supports or participates in online auctions for
Backstreet Boys' memorabilia and tell them to please
be careful and take precautions to protect their
money. Unless a potential bidder contacts the charity
directly to confirm the auction's legitimacy, there is
no guarantee that the charity even KNOWS about the
auction, let alone will receive the proceeds. So
again, if you know anyone who has bid on these suits,
please let them know that at least JWR, NCOC and DLF
cannot confirm that this was authorized by the Boys.
The bidders may want to check into it further as
eBay.com will be doing, based on our request for a
report on this auction. We will be in touch again if
there are further developments or information to
share.
Thanks.
Vicki Hanna
Director of Public Relations and Programming
Just Within Reach Foundation
Nick Carter's Oceans Campaign
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