For Immediate Release

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - July 26, 2001 - Laura Miller, Fan Promotion Director of Fans Illustrated, Inc. announced today that Fansillustrated.com launched a new campaign to help support AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys by allowing fans to sponsor yellow jellybeans (AJ's favorite candy) to be sent to AJ in a huge jar along with a complete list of all fans that helped support the campaign.

Fans can sponsor one yellow jellybean by visiting http://www.fansillustrated.com/aj. Although Fans Illustrated will donate all yellow jellybeans, there is no fee to participate. The jar of yellow jellybeans along with the list of fans will be delivered to AJ on August 22. The deadline to sponsor a jellybean is Monday, August 15, 2001.

"This is a time for support, encouragement, and prayers for A.J. Our goal is to send AJ 10,000 yellow jellybeans. That means we need 10,000 true Backstreet Boys fans to show their support," says Laura Miller, Fan Promotion Director of Fans Illustrated.

The Backstreet Boys were forced to postpone a series of concert dates starting with their Monday, July 9 show at the Fleet Center in Boston, MA.

This announcement came after the group revealed that member AJ McLean will undergo a 30-day treatment for his clinical depression which led to anxiety attacks and the excessive consumption of alcohol. A key factor causing the depression was the death of McLean's grandmother, with whom he was very close.

Contact Information:

Laura Miller
Lmiller@Fansillustrated.com
Fan Promotion Director, Fans Illustrated, Inc.
www.fansillustrated.com
Toll-free: (888) 878-3267
Direct: (317) 255-2704