The Jonas Brothers are still perplexed about how the world was burnin' up for details about their sex lives at a young age.
While looking back on the early years of their career, Joe Jonas and Nick Jonas didn’t hold back when detailing how much of the public fascination had nothing to do with their music. After all, at the time, Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas famously donned purity rings as symbols of their dedication to not having sex before marriage.
“There was a lot of interest in our sexual life during our teenage years," Joe, 36 told Variety in an interview published on Dec. 3, "which was odd."
Nick, 33, meanwhile, dubbed the past attention on the brothers' sex lives "very inappropriate." He also signaled that it was a product of its time that would not be accepted today.
Though Kevin began dating now-wife Danielle Jonas in 2007, both Nick and Joe embarked on high-profile teen romances, with Joe briefly dating Taylor Swift in 2008 and Camp Rock costar Demi Lovato in 2010. For his part, Nick was linked to fellow Disney Channel stars Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez between 2006 and 2010.
And the way the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star sees it, the kind of scrutiny the brothers faced through was a product of its time that would not be accepted today.
"If we were a small part of things—course-correcting people taking that much interest in teenagers’ sex lives—then I’m happy we went through whatever we went through to get there," he said. "But yeah, it was a bizarre time."
Now, more than a decade later, Nick—who went on to marry Priyanka Chopra in 2018—shared the advice he would give his and his siblings' younger selves if he could.
"I would tell them just to take a little pressure off," he explained. "I think we came up in a time—our work with Disney—and obviously, demographics of that being primarily a younger audience, teens, so there’s this real pressure to be a role model, to be an example. I think back when we would’ve said, 'Oh, we love that. We don’t mind the pressure. We’re trying to be good guys.'"
He continued, "I think as a 33-year-old, talking to my 13-year-old self, I’d say, “Hey, don’t try to carry the world on your shoulders. If you just need to be a kid growing up, going through experiences, do that."
Take a trip down memory lane by looking back at the Jonas Brothers through the years...
2007: AMAs
The Jonas Brothers perform at the American Music Awards.
2006: Teen Choice Awards
They are so excited to be there!
2006: TRL
The Jonas Brothers appear on MTV's Total Request Live. Ah the nostalgia!
2007: Life Is a Rollercoaster
With a few hit singles under their belt, the Jonas Brothers celebrate their success at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
2008: Babies!
The Jonas Brothers appear onstage with Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus at the City of Hope Benefit Concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.
2008: Camp Rock
The boys pose with Demi Lovato, their co-star in the Disney Channel Original Movie sequel.
2008: Camp Rock Premiere
The boys look sharp at the premiere of their Disney Channel Original Movie.
2008: White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
Our little guys are all grown up!
2009: Grammy Awards
They no longer look like they're playing dress-up with those coy looks and stylish suits! The trio was nominated for their first Grammy Award, Best New Artist, but lost to Adele.
2010: Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam Premiere
Nick apparently didn't get the message to wear black, but you gotta love him anyway!
2011: Riding High
It looks like the brothers walked straight out of the pages of Esquire magazine! (Pictured: The boys attend the Concert For Hope at the Gibson Ampitheatre in Universal City, California.)
2012: Guess Who?
Mixing and mingling with taste-makers in Hollywood. Just another day in the life of the Jonas Brothers! (Pictured: The boys appear with Kim Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne, and Danielle Jonas at E!'s 2012 Upfront event in New York City.)
2013: Split
The group breaks up. In 2016, Nick said on Watch What Happens Live, "It was a very tough conversation, and it left the family kind of shaken up for a little while. I mean we were about to start a tour. We were two days from starting a tour...We're good now. I have a beautiful niece. My brother has a family. Joe's band DNCE is doing very well. It's good for everybody and it's good that it happened because I think we all grew from it, but it was very challenging for a little while."
2017: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner's Engagement Party
The brothers may have broken up as a musical trio, but they're still family! Come on.
2018: Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra's Wedding
The trio, and younger brother Frankie Jonas, attended the multiple wedding festivities in India!
2019: Reunion!
Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas reunite for a new single, "Sucker," which they perform with James Corden on Carpool Karaoke.
2021: Remember This Tour
The Jonas Brothers finalize their setlist with Post-it Notes, helping them Think Loud while on their sold-out summer tour.