Blame it on the Fame: Milli Vanilli

3.9 (162)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
WEEKLY SERIES

Binge all episodes, ad-free, right now.

$5.99/mo or $44.99/yr after trial

When Frank Farian first laid eyes on Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, he saw everything he wasn’t. They were handsome, young, and Black. But Frank had something they didn’t. He had power. So, Frank offered them a devil’s bargain. Almost overnight, Milli Vanilli’s debut album went five times platinum and scored a Grammy nomination. But when the lie at the center of their success started to unravel, Rob and Fab would discover the hard way the difference between star power and real power. From Wondery, Blame It on the Fame is a story about the lie that shot to #1 and what it cost to tell the truth. Hosted by Amanda Seales. Listen to Blame It on the Fame on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/blame-it-on-the-fame/ now.

Behind the closed doors of government offices and military compounds, are hidden stories and buried secrets from the darkest corners of history. Each week, Luke Lamana, a Marine Corp Reconnaissance Veteran, pulls back the curtain on what once was classified information exposing the secrets and lies behind the world’s most powerful institutions. From the hitmakers at Wondery and Ballen Studios, we bring you REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana. The stories are real, and the secrets are shocking. Follow REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/links/redacted/?ol=wnd~spot~ap~am now.

4.4 (141)

HISTORY
It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.

4.5 (91496)

TRUE CRIME
Every day, hundreds of people go about their lives with no idea that someone has paid to have them killed. In the depths of the dark net, tech journalist Carl Miller makes a disturbing discovery: a secret “kill list” targeting hundreds of innocent people on a murder-for-hire website. When the police are slow to investigate, Carl is thrown into a race against time to warn those in danger and uncover the truth before it’s too late. From Wondery and Novel comes a shocking true story about obsession, control and the price of life and death. Follow the Kill List on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting www.wondery.com/links/kill-list now.

4.3 (719)

TRUE CRIME
The Strange, Dark & Mysterious delivered in podcast format. Follow the MrBallen Podcast on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish twice a week—every Monday and Thursday. Prime members can listen to new episodes 1-month early and all episodes ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.

4.9 (25386)

TRUE CRIME
Hi, I’m Dax Shepard, and I love talking to people. I am endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human, and I find people who are vulnerable and honest about their struggles and shortcomings to be incredibly sexy. I invite you to join me as I explore other people’s stories. We will celebrate, above all, the challenges and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth and betterment. What qualifies me for such an endeavor? More than a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology and four years of improv training. I will attempt to discover human “truths” without any laboratory work, clinical trials or data collection. I will be, in the great tradition of 16th-century scientists, an Armchair Expert. Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.

4.6 (66282)

COMEDY
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce from the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about their games and share unique perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. Plus, entertaining stories from a combined 21 years in the league, off-field interests, and engaging conversations with special guests. Watch and listen to new episodes every Wednesday during the NFL season & check us out on Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok for all the best moments from the show. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

4.8 (15281)

SPORTS

View Subscription FAQs

3.9

out of 5

162 Ratings

Would give it a 5 BUT

Jun 7

Lyls2018

Really enjoyed this podcast MINUS the narrator. Narrator sounded so unprofessional. Story telling was off. I always loved Milli Vanilli and supported them throughout the horrible debacle they endured. I always said there was more to it. Anyone young and with ambition would've done the EXACT same thing these young men did. Unfortunately no one advocated for them. May Fab forever RIP
Blames Racism Not Other Factors

Jul 3

JFONAV

As an 80’s kid, I looked forward to listening to the inside story Wondery is usually good at providing. Instead, from the very beginning, the podcast focused on racism against Rob and Fab as a reason for what they did instead of other factors. Other (talented) performers faced racism. But they succeeded based on their hard work and ability. Milli Vanilli took a shortcut to fame and fortune. Was the racism they faced ONE factor? Undoubtedly. Was it the PRIMARY factor? Unlikely. Unfortunately, this podcast makes it sound as if racism was a reason for their duplicity, not an excuse. There is a big difference between “reason” and “excuse”, the host and producers failed to understand that concept.
Forget the bad reviews

Jun 25

Meg313131

I love the narrator. Fun podcast. Good flow. It’s informative but feels like gossiping w a friend that grew up witnessing the craziness of the Milli Vanilli era with me.
Very interesting

Jun 25

AmyLynnWyo

I was really taken with this podcast. I had memories of this episode in pop culture history but was too young to fully grasp the implications of what was happening. This is interesting from a historical perspective to get a broader view of this tragedy. I thought Amanda Seals was wonderful and would listen to any podcast she hosts. She has a lovely voice and adds a nice mix of her own humor and opinion to liven things up. If you want more in depth information about what happened with this strange story, this podcast is for you.

When Frank Farian first laid eyes on Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, he saw everything he wasn’t. They were handsome, young, and Black. But Frank had something they didn’t. He had power. So, Frank offered them a devil’s bargain. Almost overnight, Milli Vanilli’s debut album went five times platinum and scored a Grammy nomination. But when the lie at the center of their success started to unravel, Rob and Fab would discover the hard way the difference between star power and real power. From Wondery, Blame It on the Fame is a story about the lie that shot to #1 and what it cost to tell the truth. Hosted by Amanda Seales. Listen to Blame It on the Fame on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/blame-it-on-the-fame/ now.