The parents of the members of Dream Street have filed a lawsuit against the teen boy band’s creators, alleging that their children were exposed to booze, women and pornography. The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, alleges that Louis Baldonieri and Brian Lukow “have engaged in a wide range of conduct and activities that plainly threaten and impair the minors’ well-being,” according to an affidavit from band manager John Stuart.
Baldonieri and Lukow denied the charges, with Baldonieri saying the parents were the ones setting a bad example.
The adults were “teaching kids you can sign anything, then lie, cheat and defame people for your benefit,” Baldonieri said. The lawsuit seeks back pay and the release of the singers from their current contract.
Baldonieri said the parents were trying to make a financial killing now that the five-member group has become popular.
In their lawsuit, made public Tuesday, the parents said they were trying to protect the youths. Stuart said in his affidavit that the executives encouraged the teens “to have sexual relations with teen-age girls” and offered them liquor.
Two of the teens received pornographic e-mails from a band investor, the court papers alleged. The mothers of the singers also claim that the executives called them “dumb housewives” in front of their sons.
Dream Street’s singers are 15 to 17 years old. Their debut album contained the hit singles “It Happens Every Time” and “I Say Yeah.”
