The Reason Michael McCary Left Boyz II Men
The 1990s produced some of the greatest boy bands, whose music is still enjoyed today. When it came to the genre of R&B music, there was no shortage of boy bands. Moreover, several of these groups, including Boyz II Men, produced classic R&B songs that are still held in high esteem. This includes the Boyz II Men hits — "End of the Road" and "One Sweet Day" (per LiveAbout).
Boyz II Men is a highly popular and successful group that formed in Philadelphia in the late '80s. It consisted of high school friends Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman (via AllMusic). The four-member band was lucky enough to perform for New Edition member Michael Bivins, who immediately offered them a recording contract. He later became their manager, providing them with a boost into the music industry (per Britannica). Their status only increased when they were signed by the hit-making music label Motown.
Boyz II Men is one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, per UPI. In 1991, their debut year, the group won a Grammy award for R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals. The band won another Grammy the following year, then another in 1994. They went on to earn five No. 1 hit songs and generally made frequent appearances on several Billboard charts for nearly every album they released. It was quite obvious they were a music quartet valued by fans. However, the group's longevity came into question when one member left the group.
Michael McCary was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
In 2003, fans of Boyz II Men were shocked to learn that bass vocalist Michael McCary was no longer part of the group (via the CBC). At the time, many assumed that the cause of his departure was typical band drama. However, the actual cause was kept a secret until 2016. That year, McCary finally shared the truth and why he was no longer a part of the group that had made him a famous award-winning singer. He sat down for an interview on the show "Iyanla: Fix My Life" and shared that he was living with multiple sclerosis, per Billboard.
According to Medical News Today, the condition affects the central nervous system and the brain. Symptoms of the illness can include pain, paralysis, and muscle weakness. The CBC reports that McCary thought that the cause of his recurring back spasms was scoliosis. Unfortunately, McCary didn't realize that he was actually dealing with the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis. After his diagnosis, BET states that doctors explained to him that the disorder had the ability to leave him paralyzed.
Although his condition was affecting his ability to make appearances with Boyz II Men, he kept his medical condition to himself (per the CBC). In the televised interview on "Iyanla: Fix My Life," McCary shared that leaving the group affected his relationship with his former bandmates (via Oprah). He stated that he has feelings of "betrayal" and said that he does not speak to any of the three remaining members.
Boyz II Men cut ties with McCary
On an episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?," Wanya Morris stated that there was a rift in the group caused by Michael McCary's lack of motivation. He said (via the CBC), "One of the problems was he had a back issue." He added, "It could have been fixed, instead he stopped coming to work and we had to move forward without him — and he wasn't happy about that." In a 2014 interview with HuffPost Live, the group had a similar sentiment. Shawn Stockman noted that McCary was an incredible performer, while Nathan Morris said he "gave up" and "left us hanging so many times."
The publication notes that Stockman and the Morris' were completely unaware of McCary's health issues. McCary eventually went public with his multiple sclerosis diagnosis and said that he was experiencing depression (per Essence). On "Iyanla: Fix My Life," McCary revealed that he was incredibly hurt by the actions and words of his former bandmates (via BET). He explained, "I want to get over the hurt and abandonment that I feel from the group that I've been with for so long and gave my life to." He added, "I want to be able to go in a room with them and not feel like I want to choke them."
Nevertheless, it seems that he and Boyz II Men have not solved their differences. In an interview on "The Tammi Mac Late Show" (as seen on YouTube), Stockman blasted McCary for going on "Iyanla: Fix My Life" and suggested that the group had kicked him out for bailing on his responsibilities as a recording artist.