Legendary rapper Flavor Flav has opened up about a painful and unexpected experience he had backstage at a Backstreet Boys concert during the holiday season. The Public Enemy hype man revealed he was unceremoniously removed from the band’s dressing room, an incident that left him questioning his place in the world of entertainment.
In an interview earlier this week, Flav shared that he’d attended the Backstreet Boys’ Christmas concert as a fan. “I’ve always admired their music and thought it would be cool to meet them and maybe vibe for a bit,” he explained. However, things didn’t go as planned. According to Flav, he found his way to their dressing room and was greeted initially with smiles, but the mood quickly changed.
“I was told to leave. No explanation, no nothing,” he said, visibly emotional. “I wasn’t there to cause trouble—just to spread some holiday cheer. But I guess not everyone saw it that way.”
The abrupt encounter reportedly unfolded after a staff member informed the Backstreet Boys about an “uninvited guest” in their space. Security was called, and Flav was politely but firmly escorted out. “It was humiliating,” he added. “My spirit felt broken. Here I was, a fan like anyone else, just trying to connect.”
While neither the Backstreet Boys nor their representatives have commented on the incident, fans of both the group and Flavor Flav have taken to social media to express their shock and disappointment. “This is not the holiday spirit we’d expect,” one Twitter user wrote. Another added, “Flav deserves better. We’re all fans at the end of the day.”
Despite the incident, Flav is trying to keep a positive outlook. “It’s tough, but I’m not going to let this define me or my Christmas spirit,” he said. “I’ll still bump ‘I Want It That Way’ in my car—just maybe not today.”
The incident has sparked a larger conversation about inclusivity and respect in the music industry. Many are calling for more transparency and better treatment of fellow artists, regardless of genre or perceived relevance.
As the holidays approach, Flavor Flav remains hopeful. “The holidays are about forgiveness and love,” he said. “I’m willing to move on, but I hope this serves as a reminder for everyone to treat others with kindness.”