Why Don't We: US Boy Band Accuse Manager Of Mental And ... - BBC

Skip to content

• Home
• News
• Sport
• Business
• Innovation
• Health
• Culture
• Arts
• Travel
• Earth
• Audio
• Video
• Live

HomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWhy Don't We: US boy band accuse manager of mental and financial abuse10 September 2021ShareSaveShareSave

Getty Images

US boy band Why Don't We have accused one of their managers of "mental, emotional and financial abuse" by making them "hostages in our own home" and restricting their food.

The five-piece's latest album went to number five in the UK in January.

They claimed the manager, who they didn't name, "controlled us 24/7", verbally berated them and led members to develop eating disorders.

David Loeffler, one of their managers, rejected the "untrue, hurtful" claims.

Why Don't We said they were aged between 15 and 18, and "young, impressionable and trusting" when they formed and started living in the same house.

"Little did we know that we would eventually become prisoners in the 'Why Don't We compound' under the supervision of one of our managers at Signature Entertainment Partners," they wrote on social media.

"He would not only live with us during the day, but controlled us 24/7, setting an alarm that would go off if any door or window was opened. Needless to say, we were not given the security code to the alarm, essentially making us hostages in our own home."

They added that their food was "restricted to the point that some band members developed eating disorders", and they were forced to sneak food into the house.

"We were verbally berated almost every day and alienated from our friends and families," they added. "We had no support system except for each other and were made to believe that this was 'normal', that every artist had to pay their dues."

Getty Images

The group have had two US top 10 albums, and their statement comes after two former partners of Signature Entertainment sued each other.

Mr Loeffler and music industry veteran Randy Phillips had launched the band's career, but split up and took legal action against each other last month over the group's management and control of Signature and another company.

At the time, Mr Phillips' lawyer Howard King alleged that Mr Loeffler had subjected the group to "years of mental and financial abuse".

According to Billboard in late August, the group were refusing to sign a recording agreement with Atlantic Records or perform as a group, until Mr Phillips was reinstated as their sole manager.

In a statement at the time, the group's lawyer Alan Gutman said they "support Randy Phillips the same way he has supported us from the start of our careers".

On Friday, Mr Loeffler's lawyer Michael Levin said Signature had profit share agreements with the members of Why Won't We, which had been "very beneficial for the individual members of WDW", earning them approximately $10m (£7.2m) in total.

He added: "Recent comments attributed to WDW members are untrue, hurtful, and apparently designed to be part of an ill-advised strategy to evade their obligations under these agreements.

"Signature would certainly welcome a reasonable and amicable resolution of this matter that preserves the mutually beneficial relationship that has helped WDW achieve their great success to date."

Pop musicUnited StatesMusicRelated

Singing Postman's 'nicotine gal' muse dies aged 92

Weekly quiz: Where are BTS kicking off their comeback tour?

'I'm my own worst enemy' - Hamish Hawk gears up for Hogmanay

More from the BBC1 hr ago

What we know about fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis

Trump officials says federal agents shot in self-defence, as Pretti's parents accuse them of "sickening lies".

1 hr ago2 hrs ago

Video shows moments around fatal shooting in Minneapolis

Officials identified the man who was shot as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a nurse and US citizen.

2 hrs ago3 hrs ago

Should smartphones be locked away at gigs and in schools?

Some artists already ban phones at their gigs while some headteachers say locking them away helps children learn.

3 hrs ago3 hrs ago

Cosmetic surgeon sorry for picking apart singer Troye Sivan's looks on TikTok

The singer hit out at Dr Zayn Khalid Majeed - who says he will try to have a positive impact with his content.

3 hrs ago4 hrs ago

Ros Atkins on... How popular is President Trump?

BBC Analysis Editor Ros Atkins explores how Americans feel about their president during a nonstop start to 2026 shaped by pivotal events at home and abroad.

4 hrs ago