What happens to people who come forward?
If this doesn't qualify as NKOTB enough, I'll take that hit.
What happens to people who come forward with stories of a New Kid or other public figure doing something they shouldn't have done (with or without receipts)?
Several possible scenarios play out.
They get called a liar, then threatened, stalked, doxxed, etc. They and their loved ones live in fear. Sometimes they get sued.
They are believed, and they get threatened, stalked, doxxed, etc. They and their loved ones live in fear. They also get "blamed" (Why didn't you say no, or fight back, or tell someone sooner, etc). This applies to consensual affairs, assaults, and all kinds of stuff.
They are paid by the famous person to keep quiet about what happened (hush money).
The tabloid or news outlet tells the famous person about the allegations, and gives them a chance to acknowledge the story, deny the story, or pay for the story to disappear before it goes public, which is known as "catch and kill."
Monica Lewinsky STILL gets harassed and threatened for giving BJs to a president decades ago.
Fans and haters alike will go after someone who tells a story (even if they tell it for free). If someone makes money from telling a story, they get even more backlash.
It's entirely possible, in fact probable, that more than one New Kid has strayed outside of their marriage/relationship. They have the money and the lawyers to make things go away, or to make people's lives miserable if those people come forward.
We can dislike this. We can disapprove. We can live in denial, but it is what it is.
And that's my last word on that, because those who don't want to hear it never will, and those who know, know.