AJ McLean would now like to go by Alex.
The Backstreet Boys singer opened up in regards to the identify shift and defined what led to that call within the newest episode of “Frosted Tips With Lance Bass.”
Bass started his dialog with McLean, in addition to actor Brian Austin Green, by saying, “I hear you want to start going by Alex more than AJ.”
McLean stated he now has “learned” that AJ “is a persona” and a personality often known as “one-fifth of the Backstreet Boys.” He added that he not too long ago went on a self-journey that helped him rediscover himself.
“When I went on this little self journey this past summer, I spent 10 weeks out in Scottsdale, Arizona, went to an amazing place for an intensive outpatient program called The Meadows,” he stated. “Not so much for my sobriety, but really to kind of get to the roots and clean out the pipes and, you know, deal with some past traumas and whatnot.”
During his time on the program, he stated, he realized two key phrases which have caught with him.
“One is ‘boundaries,’ that’s a big one. Love that word,” he stated. “And then, ‘authenticity.’”
He credited writer and professor Brené Brown, whom he’s by no means met however thinks is “incredible,” for uplifting him. He even tattooed her mantra “braving” on his arm.
“Which stands for boundaries, reliability, accountability, fault, integrity, non-judgment and gratitude,” he stated. “So Alexander James is me being my true, authentic self.”
The singer additionally has Alexander James as his identify on his Instagram.
McLean has been open about his decades-long struggles with habit, rehab and sobriety through the years. Backstreet Boys followers will recall in 2001 when his 4 bandmates went on “Total Request Live” with Carson Daly and introduced that McLean was entering rehab.
Back in September 2022, he celebrated being one-year sober and had a complete body transformation. At the time, he told TODAY.com that he was “in the best shape” of his life after making small food plan modifications that included no alcohol and quick meals.
He additionally spoke in regards to the distinction between him as AJ and Alex.
“AJ is kind of the celebrity who was living the rockstar lifestyle and Alex got stuffed down,” he stated. “But now I’ve come to a place where they can both coexist.”
It’s been a 12 months of change for McLean. On Jan. 1 of this 12 months, he and his spouse, Rochelle, introduced that they have been ending their marriage after 12 years.
“As you all know, we have been separated for over a year now. While we hoped for reconciliation, we have decided to officially end our marriage,” AJ and Rochelle McLean stated in a joint statement posted in a since-deleted Instagram.
The pair, who share daughters Elliott, 11, and Lyric, 7, stated they made the choice with “deep love and respect” and would concentrate on shifting ahead “in the healthiest possible way” for his or her women.
Last month, McLean shared an replace on his relationship along with his estranged spouse. The musician told Curtis Stone on “Getting Grilled” that she has been his “rock” and “has been through hell and back with me.”
He stated they wanted to develop on their very own, including that their relationship “has never been at its full potential, because I was never at my full potential and that’s what I’m aspiring to get to now.”
