There was no Latin American boy band greater than Menudo in the 1980s. The band swiftly came to stardom thanks to their passionate following of teenage ladies, with showy costumes, well-coiffed hair, and angelic voices.
The band seemed to be on the rise, topping the charts, taking over publications, and even getting their own TV movie, but behind it all, a predator was preying on the young men. Menudo: Forever Young, an HBO Max Original documentary series, aims to bring this dark narrative to light. Angel Manuel Soto and Kristofer Rios created the four-part documentary, which premiered all at once on HBO Max on June 23.
Menudo’s first lineup included brothers Fernando and NeftySallaberry and another trio of brothers named Carlos, scar, and Ricky Meléndez, who established the band in 1977. The band’s heyday had Johnny Lozada, René Farrait, Miguel Cancel, Xavier Serbiá, Charlie Masso, Ray Reyes, and Ricky Meléndez, who were constantly changing members, which would eventually become a joke around the group. Other renowned musicians such as Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa would get their start in the dynamite pop trio during their time together.
Unfortunately, the band’s fortunes began to fade in the early 1990s when questions about their manager, Edgardo Diaz, surfaced. Members of the band and individuals close to them came out to accuse the management and the musicians of sexual assault, which the HBO Max documentary promised to investigate.
Soto and Rios plan to use interviews with former Menudo members to offer the victims a chance to speak about what happened when the stage lights went out. Soto is the ideal co-director because he is a tremendous fan of Menudo and what it meant to the Puerto Rican community.
According to a statement posted alongside the film’s HBO Max and Tribeca festival debut dates, the filmmaker said Menudo’s success and crossover in the United States were aided by the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York, which slowed down traffic for blocks around the band’s hotel and sold out Madison Square Garden on many occasions. They’re pleased to premiere this series in their hometown of TriBeCa and pay tribute to their contribution to the band’s legacy.
Check out the following overview for additional information about the upcoming documentary series:
MENUDO: FOREVER YOUNG follows the growth and demise of the most famous Latin American boy band in history, immersing viewers in the world of global tours, magazine covers, ’80s fashion, and screaming fangirls. However, the four-part documentary uncovers that beneath the sparkle and glamour, the band’s manager, Edgardo Diaz, engaged in a web of abuse and exploitation. The video investigates how Diaz’s opulent exterior was concealing severe wrongdoings through candid interviews with former Menudo members.
Beginning in 1991, Diaz, the band’s manager, was accused of sexual abuse by various members. On El Program De Cristina, a prominent discussion show hosted by Cristina Saralegui at the time, he refuted the charges.
Menudo split in 2009, although reunion tours and performances with various former members have taken place since then.
The four-part documentary will go into the boy band’s growth and dissolution, as well as the charges leveled against Diaz.
Alex Fumero of Trojan Horse, Cristina Costantini and Jeff Plunkett of Muck Media, Bryn Mooser and Justin Lacob of XTR, and Soto are executive producers; Maura Anderson and Rios are co-executive producers. Soto (E1-E4) and Rios (E1-E4) are the directors (E3, E4).
Costantini and Fumero recently worked together on the Netflix documentary Mucho, Mucho Amor, which chronicled the life of Walter Mercado.
Is Menudo: Forever Young available on Amazon Prime?
Amazon prime will not be streaming Menudo: Forever Young. However, several other films are streaming on Prime. Our recommendations are The Voyagers, It’s a Wonderful Life, Notting Hill, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Is Menudo: Forever Young available on HBO Max?
HBO Max will be streaming Menudo: Forever Young. Additionally, HBO’s subscribers can enjoy its other popular streams like Euphoria, When Harry Met Sally and Promising Young Woman.
Is Menudo: Forever Young available on Hulu?
Menudo: Forever Young is not available on Hulu. The new release line-up additionally includes Pam and Tommy, How I Met Your Father, Abbott Elementary, and Vikings.
Is Menudo: Forever Young available on Netflix?
Menudo: Forever Young will not be available to stream on Netflix. However, other brilliant shows like The Power of The Dog, The Social Network, Tick, Tick, Boom, and much more are available.
Where to Watch Menudo: Forever Young?
Menudo: Forever Young will be premiering on HBO Max on June 23, 2022. We do not recommend illegal streaming and always suggest paying for the content you like to watch.