Backstreet Boys’ Ex Manager Admits to Undermining Band to Help ‘NSYNC: ‘I’m Going to Turn All My Guns Against You’

Former Backstreet Boys manager Johnny Wright admitted to deliberately sabotaging the popular boy band in the late 1990s to benefit their rivals, *NSYNC, during an interview for the Investigation Discovery docuseries 'Boy Band Confidential' released this week. Wright, who co-managed both groups during the peak of the late-90s boy band era, revealed he made a strategic decision to shift his focus and resources entirely toward *NSYNC after perceiving a lack of commitment from some Backstreet Boys members, stating he told the latter, 'I'm going to turn all my guns against you.' The confession sheds new light on one of pop music's most famous rivalries, which dominated charts and teen magazines from 1998 to 2001. Wright explained that his frustration stemmed from what he viewed as the Backstreet Boys' complacency following their initial success, particularly their reluctance to immediately return to the studio after their 1997 self-titled US debut. In contrast, he saw *NSYNC—which he also managed alongside Lou Pearlman—as hungrier and more willing to follow his direction. This led him to consciously divert marketing efforts, promotional opportunities, and strategic planning toward *NSYNC's ascendancy. The docuseries, which explores the behind-the-scenes machinations of the boy band phenomenon, uses Wright's testimony to illustrate the cutthroat business tactics that existed beneath the polished, harmonious public image. Industry analysts note that this admission validates long-standing fan theories about managed competition and internal industry favoritism. While both groups achieved monumental success, Wright's strategic pivot is credited by some with helping *NSYNC close the commercial gap with their 2000 album 'No Strings Attached,' which broke sales records. The revelation adds a layer of corporate intrigue to the nostalgic narrative of the era, highlighting how management decisions could directly influence cultural battles between teen idols.