In the 1980s, Frank Farian was riding high as a successful German music producer, but he was bored. German pop was formulaic, dull, and oh, so white. Frank had bigger dreams, American dreams. He wanted to create the music that would rival larger than life artists like Michael Jackson or Run DMC. So he assembled a hip hop duo, two once in a lifetime talents who were charismatic, full of sex appeal, and phenomenal dancers. The only problem, one very important element was missing, but Frank knew just how to fix that. Wundry's new podcast, Blame It On The Fame, dives into one of pop music's greatest controversies. Millie Vanilli set the World on Fire. But when their adoring fans learned about the infamous lip syncing, their downfall was swift and brutal. But that isn't the whole story. With exclusive interviews from frontman, FAB Morvan, and his producers, Frank Farian and Ingrid Sigis. This podcast takes a fresh look at the exploitation of two young Black artists. While many see this as a story of a scam gone wrong, Blame It On The Fame tells the never before heard story of the man pulling the strings and the trail of destruction he left in his wake.

I'm about to play a clip from Blame It On The Fame, Millie Vanille. Follow Blame It On The Fame on the Wundery app or wherever you get your podcast.

Guys, look this way. Two young men with silk scarves tied over their long black braids sat behind a long table.

They leaned into the microphones in front of them and introduced themselves as...

My name is Fabrice Marvin. My name is Robert Hylaker.

In front of them was a room full of reporters. But Rob looked cocky. Like a debate club student who's never lost a tournament. And FAB, child Fabb, looked like he was about to shit his pants.

Why did you keep on doing it for so long?

What was going through your mind? For almost two years, Robin Fabb had been two of the biggest pop stars on the whole planet. But just a few days ago, the entire world learned that they didn't sing a note on their own album, the album that won them best new artist at the Grammys and went six times platinum.

You want to talk to a pair of singers and help it critically. You can now be saying that not even your hair is still. How could you expect anyone, your fans, your media, anybody, to think it's serious. How much money were you paid in total for a not singer? What message does that tell your fans?

I would describe it like this. You get something, but for that, you make a pact with the devil.

No one wanted to hear about a pact with the devil.

Not if your father would be very upset by the fact that the The only way you can explain the charade, the cost, the bakery of the last year, two years, is money.

Do you live in a project? If we wouldn't have accept that at the start, we knew we would be still in Munich. I would still work at the McDonald's.

A guy from the back shouted, Your talent would get you out. Robin Fabb's manager needed to shut this down, like now. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, gentlemen. Can we close you with the conference?

Thank you. The reporters started moving toward the exit. They were in a good mood. They had all just been handed by lines for front-page stories. These two, Robin Fabb, had tried to get something for nothing, tried to fake their way to Fame and fortune, and they'd been caught in a lie, an outrageous lie. It was a good story. But one Black reporter in glasses didn't head toward the exit. He headed toward the reporter who'd yelled, Your talent would get you out.

Looking like a true white boy. Your talent would get you out. Right.

Now, it's hard to hear him over the crowd, but he's saying, Spoken like a true White boy. Talent. Right. You can hear the next bit a little more clearly.

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

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

You can binge all episodes of Blamen on the Fame, Millie Vanille, early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.