Following the revelation that his daughter, who is nine years old and wants to change her name to Elliott, AJ McLean has stated that he will support his children no matter what.
Recently, the legendary member of the Backstreet Boys, who is now 44 years old, gave an interview to People about his daughter Ava’s decision, after his wife Rochelle had previously revealed the news on Instagram.
In a post that they wrote together, the couple said: “After two and half years of homeschool, these two beauties are back to school! Lyric is starting kindergarten and Elliott (Ava) is in fourth grade! I can’t believe it! I’m so proud of these girls. As much as I am going to miss them, I’m excited to watch them spread their wings and fly!”
“When my daughter asked to change her name to Elliott, initially, I didn’t know if it was a transgender thing, which it is not, but it is a personal choice. And it is her body, it’s her name, it’s her everything. And she’s still Ava. She’ll always be Ava to me,” the father-of-two told the publication.
“But at the same time, whatever reasoning it is, that’s hers, and I’m going to support it a million percent, my wife will [too],” he added.
McLean disclosed that potential name changes had been a topic of discussion for more than a year, saying that his daughter had informed him of the following: “Dad, I just feel like my name is not that unique and not that original, and there’s a lot of Avas at dance and a lot of Avas at school.”
Rochelle, who is married to McLean, later wrote on her Instagram stories to reaffirm that the reason her daughter changed her name had nothing to do with a desire to transition to the opposite gender. “For those asking … not that it’s anyone’s business but Elliott’s name change is not a gender thing.”
She went on to say that it was “odd” for parents to choose names for their children when they were infants and expect those children to go by those names for the rest of their lives. She called this practice “odd.”
“Anyway … so that’s how Ava became Elliott. I knew once I put it out there people would have opinions, but be kind. She’s just a kid trying to make her way in this crazy world! I just want her to know she can always be whoever she wants to be,” she added.
Since they wed in 2011, Rochelle and AJ have been blessed with two little girls as a married couple. According to StarPulse, McLean, who was born in Florida, was the very first member of Backstreet Boys when the group was established in 1992.
In addition to winning five Billboard Music Awards and being nominated for nine Grammy Awards due to their numerous hits in the 1990s and early 2000s, including “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” the group has also been honored with nine Grammy Award nominations.
