AJ's Dad Speaks Out
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May 19, 2000
Well it seems I can no longer standby and not speak out. After the Ultrasound MTV interview, I have gotten well over 1000 hate e-mails and even a few death threats. So I guess it's time to publish MY SIDE of the "Alex's Dad Story". What follows is an open letter to BSB fans (and Alex, if he wants to read it) around the world, setting straight the facts around my not being in Alex's life.
DEAR BSB FANS:
An awful lot of you seem to think that I am some sort of gold digging dead beat dad, which could not be farther from the truth. So here is the true story, even Alex does not know it, since we have never sat down and talked about any of this.
Denise and I divorced when Alex was 4 and I was granted visitation rights by the court. All went well for a number of years, until I moved to Colorado Springs, CO in July of 1984, for my job. I got to see Alex in the end of 1984, visiting him at his Uncle Bill's house in Boca Raton, FL. Alex and I spoke almost every weekend on the phone right up to the end of June 1985. I had made plans for my 1 month visitation, by having Alex come to Colorado Springs for the month of July 1985. At the last minute, Denise said no, Alex was to busy to come out. A 7-year-old is too busy to come and spend time with his father, go figure. So with court order in hand, I went to Boynton Beach, FL on the appointed day I was to pick him up and guess what?? No one home. Returning home without Alex, I did what I now know was a huge mistake. I cut off all contact with Denise and Alex for about 6 months.
In Jan 1986, I moved to Hong Kong, to work and over the next almost 5 years, sent letters and packages to Alex for holidays, birthday's etc. And guess what??? I never heard a word from Alex or Denise. At the end of 1990, I returned back to Florida and went to Boynton Beach, only to find they had moved. Having no address, I spent the next few months trying to find them. In Jan of 1991, I found out they where living in Fern Park, FL, just north of Orlando. I went to the condo, only to be told by some guy that answered the door, that they where not at home. Now, Alex says the last time he saw me was when he was around twelve years old, well I guess they where home after all. I left my business card and home phone number and asked that either Denise or Alex call me. Guess what??? No call... I then had to leave town for about a month on a business trip and training. On my return, I went back to the Fern Park Condo, only to find a For Sale sign and no one home. Now in Florida the court will not give the father, the ex's address, so I again had no idea where they where. So I made my second huge mistake, I gave up trying to find them.
By the way, to set the record straight, I paid my child support payments out of court ordered payroll deduction all this time, so much for the dead beat dad stuff.
In 1995, I don't remember when, there was an article in the Orlando Sentinel about the Backstreet Boys. After finding the telephone number for Transcontinental Records, I tried about 10 times to contact Denise or Alex through them. In the end, I was told not to call back again, no one wanted to talk with me and the police would be called if I called back one more time. Well guess what, you don't have to tell me more than once, I get the message... go away.
Now as me move to the next phase of this story, the gold digging part. In Aug of 1996 I had a knock on the door, I first thought, oh one of Parisa's boyfriends (Parisa is Alex's stepsister) that does not know she has left for the Peace Corps. I opened the door and almost fell over... Alex I said... yes he said, and asked Dad? We had a great visit, I showed him some BsB stuff I had, not covering the walls though. He, Marisa, my wife Lace and I went out to dinner and a movie. Promises to keep in touch where made and the meeting ended on a very high note. Now as Alex has said in the Rolling Stone interview, I did drive him crazy and I am so very sorry for that, it was only my excitement over getting back together with him after so many years.
Now for the gold digging, first, he looked me up, I didn't go hunting him down. Second, I have not sent cards, letters etc. as stated in the Ultrasound interview, hell no one ever gave me his address. Third, I could care less about his money, I have my own money. I don't need or want his, I would not give Denise the satisfaction of saying I told you so. I know I am my own man...
So, there you go, the truth about the "Alex's Dad's Story", very much different than what you have read or heard isn't it. Alex never knew the truth and I guess just sticks to the same old untrue story.
PEACE ALWAYS,
Bob McLean
Copyrighted 2000 by Bob McLean
