Source: Submitted by: Lauren
Dear JWR, NCOC and DLF Supporters:
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