Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docuseries details celebrity sexual assault and drug abuse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
FALLEN IDOLS: NICK AND AARON CARTER is a docuseries that explores the pop star brothers' rise to fame and separate downfalls. Older brother Nick escaped the troubled family household when an audition turned him into the frontman of the Backstreet Boys as a young teenager. Brother Aaron followed in his footsteps, becoming a solo pop sensation at 12. After several years of astronomical fame, both brothers turned to various vices. In Fallen Idols, three women give their accounts of Nick Carter's alleged pattern of sexual assault and the devastating consequences the assaults had on their lives. They describe being terrified to come out with their stories when they knew there would be a press frenzy and personal consequences. Eventually, they decide to sue Carter (as of the docuseries' release in May 2024, the cases were still pending). Fallen Idols also tells the story of Aaron's parallel narrative. The pressures of fame and his difficult upbringing led Aaron down a path of substance abuse. He makes a series of poor choices, and eventually his addiction leads to his death.
Is It Any Good?
This docuseries is of greatest interest to millennials who came of age during the Backstreet Boys frenzy of the late 1990s. That said, teenagers into pop culture may be intrigued to learn about the pitfall of teen superstardom, and to ponder if today's celebrity machine is any better than the one depicted in Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter. The series lays out a compelling case in the court of public opinion against Nick Carter (though the real legal cases were still pending as of its release). Aaron's story is tragic, and seeing it put together in a timeline is pretty awful. Fallen Idols does touch on themes like generational trauma, the effects of fame, and the abuse of privilege and power. But some of the details play out more like tabloid fodder, and may only be interesting to those already invested in the Carters' stories.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the power our culture bestows upon celebrities, especially White male celebrities. How did Nick Carter allegedly exploit his power dynamic? What impact did the #metoo movement have?
How do the unnatural pressures of fame and the Carter brothers' tough upbringing affect your understanding of their trajectories?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 27, 2024
- Cast : Nick Carter , Aaron Carter
- Network : Max
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 7, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate