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Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault. After years of headlines and shared controversies, a new documentary series is offering an inside look at the highs and lows of Aaron and Nick Carter‘s careers. We’re diving into how to watch Fallen Idols live for free up ahead, that way you can tune into this new investigation into the fame, family drama, and legal battles of the Carter brothers’ lives for yourself.
The Investigation Discovery documentary, Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, is a four-part series that delves into the lives of the Carter brothers, focusing on their rise to fame and struggles in the spotlight. The documentary primarily focuses on the sexual assault allegations against Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter, which include accusations from Melissa Schuman, Ashley Repp, and Shay Ruth. Nick, however, has consistently denied these allegations. The series also explores the impact of these allegations on the accusers, highlighting the backlash they have faced throughout the years from Nick’s fans since coming forward with their stories.
Nick Carter’s little brother, Aaron Carter, is also featured prominently in Fallen Idols, as the documentary explores his struggles with mental health and addiction before his tragic death from an overdose at the age of 34 in November 2022. The documentary also considers Aaron’s public support for Nick’s accusers, which led to a major feud between the brothers before his death. Close family members and friends, such as Nick’s ex-girlfriend Kaya Jones and Aaron’s former fiancée Melanie Martin, are interviewed in the documentary to provide an extra perspective on the brothers’ tumultuous relationship and the pressures of fame.
Whether you were a fan of the Backstreet Boys or have simply been following the headlines about the Carter brothers throughout the years, this series is set to reveal some previously untold claims behind the tabloid reports. Luckily, we have a guide for how to watch Fallen Idols live for free up ahead, so you can catch this new documentary series for yourself. Keep on reading ahead for our streaming tips.
When does Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter air?
Fallen Idols premieres on Monday, May 27 on Investigation Discovery. The four-part documentary series is set to air its first two episodes at 9 p.m. ET, followed by two more episodes airing at the same time on Tuesday, May 28.
How to watch Fallen Idols for free
Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter airs on Investigation Discovery, which is available to stream live on services like DirecTV Stream, Philo, Fubo, and Sling. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Philo offers a seven-day free trial and costs $25 per month after the free trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Sling TV starts at $20 for your first month.
Best Overall Pick to Watch Fallen Idols: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first 2 months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month with the first 2 months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $174.99 per month.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fallen Idols with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for Investigation Discovery and start watching Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch Fallen Idols: Philo’s Free Trial
Philo is our best free trial pick to watch Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter for its price and free trial length. Philo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and costs $25 per month after the trial ends. Along with Investigation Discovery, Philo also offers similar channels like Crime Investigation. As for what else it includes, Philo offers more than 70 channels, as well as an unlimited DVR service. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fallen Idols with Philo’s free trial.
- Visit Philo.com
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for Investigation Discovery and start watching Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter
Best Budget Pick to Watch Fallen Idols: Sling TV
Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter for its channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $40 per month; Sling Blue for $45 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $60 per month. Sling also has a current deal where subscribers can sign up for 50 percent off their first month, bringing Sling Orange’s price down to $20 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $22.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $30 for your first month. All three plans include Investigation Discovery.
As for the differences between the plans, Sling Orange, which is most suited toward sports and family channels, includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time. Sling Orange, which is most suited toward news and entertainment channels, includes 42 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Sling Orange + Blue includes all the channels offered on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue, as well as the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fallen Idols with Sling TV.
- Visit Sling.com
- Click “Try Us Today”
- Create an account
- Select your plan
- Enter your payment information and check out
- Search for Investigation Discovery and start watching Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch Fallen Idols: Fubo
Fubo is our best upgrade pick to watch Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; Elite, which costs $89.99 per month; and Premier, which costs $99.99 per month. Investigation Discovery is available on all three plans.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch Fallen Idols with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for Investigation Discovery and start watching Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter
What is Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter about?
According to ID, “Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter not only offers a deeper understanding around the allegations, but also chronicles the intense backlash Nick’s accusers have faced since their decision to speak publicly and the lasting impact that has had on their lives.”
“Fallen Idols explores the dark side of fame and fraught family dynamics, but also the intense challenges faced by accusers who come forward against celebrities and pop culture icons in today’s modern world,” the network added in a press release.
What are the allegations against Nick Carter?
Sexual assault allegations against Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter first emerged in 2017, when singer and actress Melissa Schuman publicly accused him of raping her in 2002 when she was 18 and he was 22. Schuman, who was a member of the girl group DREAM, detailed her allegations in a blog post at the time, stating that Carter forced her to have sex despite her repeated refusals. Due to the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases at the time, Schuman was initially unable to file a lawsuit against the singer.
Following Schuman’s accusation, two more women came forward with similar claims. Ashley Repp accused Carter of sexually assaulting her in 2002, and Shannon “Shay” Ruth alleged that Carter assaulted her when she was 17 during a Backstreet Boys tour in 2001. Ruth filed a lawsuit against the Backstreet Boys singer in December 2022, whereas Schuman eventually sued Carter in April 2023 after a new law widened the statute of limitations against sexual assault cases in California. In her lawsuit, Schuman claimed he used “his role, status, and power as a well-known singer to gain access to, groom, manipulate, exploit, and sexually assault” her, per Rolling Stone.
Nick Carter has consistently denied all these allegations. “Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual,” Carter said in a statement at the time. “We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally.”
In response to Ruth’s claims, Carter’s lawyer also dismissed the accusations. “Unfortunately, for several years now, Ms. Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick—and those allegations have changed repeatedly and materially over time,” he shared in a statement with Hollywood Life. Carter’s attorney went on to suggest that Ruth’s claims were all part of a larger bid for attention. “No one should be fooled by a press stunt orchestrated by an opportunistic lawyer—there is nothing to this claim whatsoever, which we have no doubt the courts will quickly realize,” he added.
In 2023, Carter filed a countersuit against Schuman and Ruth, where he alleged his accusers were trying to “defame and vilify” him and “otherwise ruin his reputation for the purposes of garnering attention and fame and/or extorting money” from him.
Legal proceedings regarding these cases are still ongoing. In early 2024, a judge dismissed Nick’s request to dismiss Melissa Schuman’s case against him, allowing her lawsuit to proceed. Meanwhile, Ruth’s 2022 lawsuit has also yet to reach a resolution.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
