Nick Lachey Opens Up About Identity Crisis He Faced In The ’90s, Says Motown Records Wanted His Boy Band 98 Degrees To Be The ‘White Jodeci

98 Degrees, Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey Opens Up About Identity Crisis He Faced In The ’90s, Says Motown Records Wanted His Boy Band 98 Degrees To Be The ‘White Jodeci

#NickLachey is opening up about the pressure he faced early in his career with 98 Degrees, revealing that signing to Motown Records sparked a deep identity struggle.

In an upcoming documentary, he said executives tried to mold the group into something they weren’t: “The president of Motown, he wanted us to be the white Jodeci. So he was trying to give us that in a crash course.” That push led to uncomfortable moments, including being encouraged to attend Black churches in Harlem and work closely with #Jodeci, experiences that left the group feeling out of place.

“I remember going on a train to Rochester, New York, to work with DeVanté from Jodeci and we show up and DeVanté is being fitted for a bulletproof vest, in the studio. And I’m looking around like, ‘Do we need a bulletproof vest? What did we just walk into?’” Lachey recalled. Despite appreciating the opportunity, he admitted the pressure blurred their sense of identity, adding, “It does make you question, ‘Well, why did you sign us if you didn’t want us to be who we are?’” and that it “really starts to mess with you mentally.”

The strain extended beyond Lachey. Fellow member #JeffTimmons shared that he battled severe depression and self-doubt during that time before eventually seeking help and recovering. 98 Degrees, also made up of Justin Jeffre and Drew Lachey, will revisit their journey in Boy Band Confidential: A Hollywood Demons Event, premiering April 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ID.