Brian McFadden has recalled his “horrendous” experience with Louis Walsh in a new documentary revealing the dark side of 90s boy bands.
The singer, 44, rose to fame when Louis formed Westlife in 1998, but revealed he struggled with the manager’s taunts and insults.
Speaking on the next BBC Boybands Forever series, confessed: ‘I hated Luis. Louis would walk into a room and say, “Hello, everyone,” and then look at me and say, “Brian…” (Blowing on his cheeks). Basically saying I’m fat.
‘It was just horrible. But very few things he touched didn’t turn to gold.
Revealing how quickly his life changed, Brian added: “I was working at McDonald’s as a security guard and six months later Swear It Again went to number one.”
Brian McFadden has recalled his “horrendous” experience with Louis Walsh in a new documentary revealing the dark side of 90s boy bands.
The singer, 44, rose to fame when Louis formed Westlife in 1998, but revealed he struggled with the manager’s taunts and insults (pictured in 2015).
Westlife, made up of Brian, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne, became one of Ireland’s most successful boy bands, selling more than 55 million records.
Brian left the band in 2004, admitting that he had a hard time juggling raising his children with his then-wife Kerry Katona with being in the group.
As reported by the sunHe said in the documentary: “The powers that be made it very clear to us that our personal lives were second only to Westlife.”
“We had moments when family members died and we couldn’t go to the funeral because there was a concert or an interview that day.”
MailOnline has contacted Louis’ representatives for comment.
The group previously expressed their displeasure over Louis’ behavior during his time in the band.
Nicky Byrne once shared in a chat with The Mail: ‘Louis was always with you. The first thing he said to me when I walked into the room was, “Your teeth are fucking terrible.” What did you want me to do? They were my teeth. I remember once saying, “Your teeth are fucking horrible too.”
He said, “I know, but I’m not on TV.” I went and got a brace. Kian Egan added.
‘We lived in fear of Louis. He told me: “You’re done. I’m going to kick you out of the band. I’m going to put you on the next plane home. A taxi can only fit four people, not five.”
Shane Filan then posed as the X Factor judge and said: “Shane, you don’t look very good. Your hair is terrible. You look fat. Careful, there are only three Bee Gees.”
“We were definitely afraid of him. He was a very powerful man, only a tenth of what he is now, but for us he was the best coach in the world.’
Westlife, also consisting of LR Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan, became one of Ireland’s most successful boy bands, selling more than 55 million records.
Louis Theroux’s documentary Boybands Forever, which delves into the careers of ’90s and ’90s artists such as Take That, Westlife and Blue, hits screens on Saturday.
The three-hour episodes will follow the life-changing reality of stars who find fame at a young age, delving into topics such as drinking, drugs, fighting and exploitation.
Louis interviewed the likes of Robbie Williams and Brian McFadden, as well as music label boss Louis Walsh.
Speaking ahead of his boyband series, Louis said: “I couldn’t be more excited about this series. An epic story featuring an all-star cast and all-star creators, spanning three decades and involving some of the icons of modern British pop .
‘We see them through them, through their ups and downs, listening to the key players, as we chart the golden years of boybands.
‘How they came together, the experience of sudden fame, the opportunities and temptations that came their way, the conflicts within the groups, between the groups and between the boys and their managers.
“It’s a gripping fable about getting everything you dreamed of, and it’s not what you imagined, centered on a generation of young men and their managers, who were tremendously successful and also immensely vulnerable, having the best times of their lives and also in some cases fall apart.
“Those guys we all saw singing and dancing in tight formation – Take That, East 17, Westlife, Blue, Five, Damage, 911 and so many others – are now middle-aged men who have the time and maturity to look back and reflect about it. It took us more than a year to make the series.
“Now I’m excited for people to see it.”
The first two episodes of Boybands Forever air on Saturday at 9.15pm and 10.15pm on BBC Two.
Louis Theroux’s documentary Boybands Forever, which delves into the careers of 1990s and ’90s artists such as Take That, Westlife and Blue, will air on Saturday.