Update: You guys I'm really thrilled with the response this page has been getting, it means so much to me! But I've decided not to post any more e-mails, we don't need to keep dragging the issue along...I think the point has been made.But, I did post one last e-mail that I thought was really important.
A little while ago, while waiting for my mom in Shoppers Drug Mart, I picked up a copy of 'Superteen' a teeny-bopper magazine that I occasionally sucumb to reading...
Much to my surprise I found an actual interview with Nick. Not one of those articles written by like one sentence (Nick says 'I Like Pizza' and you get 27 freakin' pages about Nick's dying obsession with the food...) but an honset to goodness, real live interveiw! I was shocked...
The interview seemed pretty average until I got to the very last part...
"I went on the net one day and people were talking about me being overweight. I mean, I know I do kinda flucuate with my weight and stuff.... I'm really not that overweight for my height, but it really does hurt my feelings when people say things like that."
OK, does anyone have any idea how mad that makes me? I know Nick has not been known for being the sweetest guy in the world (the *ahem* Spin article) but, maybe I'm wrong, he seems so be getting over himself these days (This is coming from someone who REALLY detested Nick for a long time...)
Yet, the world had a huge outburst (or at least the BSB side of the Net did...) when this article came out. Nick had laughed at a girl who was called slightly over-weight.
But it's perfectly fine for sites to name themselves 'Dedicated To The Fat Ass' and make jokes about Nick's weight...
It's not. He seemed to learn his lesson about the Spin thing, and maybe we can learn our lesson for this...
I'm not saying I'm perfect, I made a remark about slimming down in my review of 'I Want It That Way', and he even stated that the rest of BSB sometimes tease him about it...
All in all, I feel guilty for making any comments and think that we should put the weight issue aside...trust me, if we're going to make fun of him I can think of a billion more entertaining things...
I got an awesome e-mail on the subject yesterday, and the girl who sent it was kind enough to let me post it...If you have an opinion on the subject, mail me by all means...
Hello!
I fully and completely agree with the point of view that you explained
in your section entitled, "Leave Nick Alone!" I feel that while I'm
sure Nick is no angel and that's he's not perfect, nobody should use
that against him.
Because nobody is perfect! Nick is a talented artist
and I think it is just plain wrong and insensitive to judge him because
some people think he's overweight.
Personally, I don't feel Nick has a
weight issue. I also think that's it's much more healthier to be seen
as slightly overweight in some people's eyes than to be obviously way
too skinny in everyone's eyes.
Certain people have to realize that Nick
is a teenager. Granted he's basically out of the puberty stage, but
he's still a teenager.
He goes through the same annoying stages we do,
and he deals with the same confusing feelings everyday.
In fact, it's
probably worse for him because of his unusual lifestyle.
I think that
everyone should take as step back and look at it from a different angle.
It's not easy being a famous teenager, and we should all give Nick
credit for trying to set a good example by not doing drugs or drinking
instead of hassling him about his weight.
Thank you,
Sarah Tamulevich
If you'd like to talk to Sarah about this, mail her here
Sarah's e-mail brought up another point. Many people forget that bulimia and anorexia affect males too.
If people were harrasing, say Michelle Williams, (who is a prefectly normal weight and looks awesome) some would consider it grounds for death.
Though eating disorders affect females more widely then males, I'm not saying it can't happen...If you're from Europe, you probably know who Adam Rickett is...he had bulimia, and is a normal (and pretty cute) male...
I recieved this e-mail from Pearl Wu, you can mail her here
Just to let you know...these words come from the keyboard of a Nick Lover, plus I haven't read the Spin or Superteen interviews, so I don't know if that means my opinion counts, but I'll voice it anyway. Here I go...
Have you ever seen any of Nick's past, past interviews? The one with the cute little fifteen year old wearing the I'm-innocent-I'm-cute-and-I-don't-have-a-clue-to-how-I'm-supposed-to-answer-this-question face. (I believe they purposely threw him all the sex questions.)
Now, he's got the I'm-a-little-conceited-because-I-grew-up-in-the-limelight personality. (At least that's what I think.) And the personality is perfectly all right. It's very understandable that a couple of the answers to his questions weren't agreeable with critics and fans.
I doubt any of us (as in the teenage fans or non-fans) would know how to talk any better in an interview. (Ricky Martin's a BIT self-centered in his interviews he grew up in the spotlight, too, by the way); Oprah's been rude to a bunch of her guests--please don't kill me for saying that if you like them.) God forbid I ever get an interview, I'd probably denounce a million celebrities and bite the interviewer's head off! (*LOL*)
I guess Nick's management never pulled him aside and told him what to say and what not to say--maybe they have, I don't know--but I'd prefer that they didn't. That way we'd be able to see the real BSB, I suppose, instead of some scripted, censored answers.
Okay, all in all, I have a great feeling that Nick is just a normal person.
Teenagers aren't the nicest people in the world, we aren't angels, and the majority of us don't have a clue about what to say or do when put on the spot.
He's probably just saying the things he'd say around people he'd usually chat with, and didn't realize anyone else would think twice about it.
All of us have gossipped or said things we shouldn't have before;( exactly...) I doubt any of it ever made headlines or homepages on the internet.
I haven't even touched on his weight issue. I don't think it's a big deal. His chubbiness is even kind of cute--it would make his cheeks (the ones on his face, mind you) even easier to pinch.
I'm on my school's swim team. Granted, after seeing a bunch of the guys in speedos on my team, I know most will never make it as a Calvin Klein underwear ad. However, I don't see any of them getting tortured for it. That's because they're on the team, and they're respected for knowing how to swim fast. The same should go for all entertainers.
Nick should be recognized for the fact that he can sing, and he can perform, not anything else. He already is in my book.
Thanks for bearing with me,
Pearl
I received this e-mail from Steph you can mail her here about her e-mail.
Sup,
I'm a newly found fan of your site, and I must say I love it. the point I'm writing you aboutis nick's weight. he isn't fat. believe me, I should know. what really irks me is that very person out there makes fun of his weight.
Sure he's in the entertainment biz, and he isn't exactly as skinny as his fellow backstreeters, but leave him alone. It's really hard when you have people make fun of you.
It's pretty bad when their people you don't know. but it has to worse for him, b/c his older "brothers" make fun of him for it. now that I know what I'm talking about.
I have an older brother, and I'm overweight , and he makes fun of me and it hurts bad. What people don't understand is that he gets it enough from people around him, then to turn around and have his fair-weather-fans backstab him is about as low as you can get. you have to imagine that his self-esteem is pretty low at this point.
I guess what i'm trying to say is that the web is for everybody, and you're allowed to post your own opinions on it, but don't you think that Nick can get on it just as easily as anybody else? i know I'd be upset if someone devoted a whole page on their site to making fun of my weight.
LEAVE THE POOR GUY ALONE! HE'S NOT FAT! THE BREAK JUST DIDN'T DO HIMANY GOOD! HECK EVEN KEVIN SAID HE WENT THROUGH A TIME WHEN HE WAS OVERWEIGHT!
Enough said,
Stephanie
I received this from Jenn, you may mail her here
I recently had an opportunity to read your voiced opinion entitled "Leave Nick Alone" or something to that effect. I'm not a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys, in fact I only know one of their songs "Quit Playin Games With My Heart".
However after reading your "article" I feel I ought to voice my opinion as countless others have. The issue of Nick's weight is what this seems to be all about.
From what I can tell he is not overweight. I know what overweight is, seeing as I have been there in the past. Weight is not an issue, it should not be. It's the inside person that really counts.
Afterall people are people, they always have been and they always will be.
What really matters is the person inside the image, not the outside, sure everyone likes to look good, and be in "shape" but that's not important.
About two years ago I was what was considered to be overweight, I hated myself, not just my body, but my image and my personality. I lost my self esteem.
I began to eat less and less, and was eventually diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. (Anorexia Nervosa: An eating disorder associated with a distorted body image that may be caused by a mental disorder. Inadequate calorie intake results in severe weight loss.) I refused treatment and I'm still recovering to this day. I'll never forget that experience.
Nick ought not to be bothered about his weight, the last anyone needs to do is drive another person to be anorexic. I would hate to see him or anyone else go through what I have been through. I hope this issue fades.
And one last thing "Leave Nick Alone"!!!!!
Thank you
Jenn
