0:00

In the early 90s, it was

0:02

the biggest scandal in pop music.

0:04

The stars of Millie Vanilli, the

0:06

Grammy-winning, multi-platinum R&B phenomenon, were exposed

0:08

as frauds. They never sung a

0:11

note on their own songs. In

0:13

a flash, they went from famous

0:15

to infamous. But none of this

0:17

was their idea. So whose was

0:19

it? Enter German music producer

0:21

Frank Faryon. He saw the success of

0:23

acts like Michael Jackson and Prince, and

0:26

he wanted in. No

0:28

matter the cost. So he

0:30

devised the perfect pop heist.

0:32

Two once-in-a-lifetime talents who were

0:34

charismatic, full of sex appeal,

0:36

and phenomenal dancers. The only

0:38

problem? Sounding American. But Frank

0:40

knew just how to fix

0:42

that. Wondery's new podcast, Blaming

0:44

on the Fame, dives into

0:46

one of pop music's greatest

0:48

controversies and takes a never-before-heard

0:50

look at the exploitation of two young black

0:52

artists. Millie Vanilli set the world on fire,

0:55

but when the truth came out, Rob and

0:57

Fab were the only ones who got burned.

0:59

I'm about to play a clip from Blame

1:02

it on the Fame. Follow Blame it on

1:04

the Fame on the Wondery app or wherever

1:06

you get your podcast. Two

1:22

young men with silk scarves tied

1:24

over their long black braids sat

1:26

behind a long table. They

1:29

leaned into the microphones in front of

1:31

them and introduced themselves as... My

1:33

name is Sir Brace Marlin. My name

1:35

is Robert De Lea. In

1:37

front of them was a room full of

1:40

reporters. But Rob looked cocky.

1:43

Like a debate club student who's never lost

1:45

a tournament. And Fab, child

1:47

Fab looked like he was about to shit

1:49

his pants. Why did you

1:51

keep on doing it for so long?

1:53

What was going for your mind? For

1:56

Almost two years, Rob and Fab had been two

1:58

of the biggest pop stars on the team. The

2:00

whole thing in it. For.

2:02

Just a few days ago, the entire

2:04

world learned that they didn't send a

2:07

note on their own album. The album

2:09

that one them best new Artist at

2:11

the Grammys and went six times. More

2:15

Federal Federal Reserve is currently.

2:19

Offering more. Serious

2:24

How much money where you played? It's overkill,

2:26

not so much. Of

2:30

a struggle as this. You.

2:32

Get something for put that, make a

2:35

pact with the zealots. No one wanted

2:37

to hear about a half to death.

2:46

To a. Montessori

2:48

lives of approach. This

2:52

with wouldn't have accept that as

2:54

thought would still have to work

2:56

at a Mcdonald's A guy from

2:58

the back shouted. Okay,

3:00

yeah, I would guess

3:02

you wow Robin fab manager.

3:04

Need to discuss this like

3:07

now. Survive on the very

3:09

last. Episode

3:11

of. The

3:14

reporters started moving boy the as if.

3:16

They were in a good mood

3:18

say it also has been handed

3:20

by line for front page story.

3:22

These two robin fab had tried

3:24

to get something for nothing side

3:26

to seek their way the same

3:28

and fortune and they've been hard.

3:30

To tell lies and hour raise

3:33

lot. It was a dory, but

3:35

one reporter in glasses didn't head

3:38

toward the exit. He

3:40

headed toward the reporter who yells your

3:42

i would get you out. Around.

3:49

Now is hardly hear him over

3:51

the crowd when he same spoken

3:53

like a true why boy, family

3:55

or i you can hear the

3:57

next his little more clear. You

4:00

knew that shit wasn't true when you said it.

4:03

You knew that shit wasn't true when you said it.