A new book has shed light on Kevin Jonas Sr.’s concerns about his sons’ image during their rise to stardom, particularly surrounding the 2009 concert film Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience. According to Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire, written by Ashley Spencer, the Jonas Brothers’ father, Kevin Sr., worried that certain elements of the film might make the brothers appear “too sexual.”
In the mid-2000s, the Jonas Brothers—Kevin, Joe, and Nick—quickly became global teen sensations. But behind their polished, wholesome image was a father who meticulously managed their brand to ensure it aligned with their values. At the time, Kevin Sr., who was also a pastor in New Jersey, took on a pivotal role in guiding his sons’ careers, acting as a hands-on manager.
Steve Greenberg, former Columbia Records president, remarked on Kevin Sr.’s active involvement. “I’ve worked with a lot of kids who have parents who are very involved, and the Jonases’ dad was, by far, the most proactive and great of them all,” Greenberg shared with Spencer.
The book details how Kevin Sr. grew concerned during the production of the 2009 concert film. Filmed at Madison Square Garden during the Jonas Brothers’ Burning Up tour, the film included behind-the-scenes footage and concert moments, some of which raised eyebrows. Spencer recounts a specific scene where the brothers used foam guns to spray excited fans, followed by another sequence where they played on water-drenched drums. Tour photographer Elise Abdalla noted that these scenes often left the brothers soaking wet, with their fitted shirts revealing more than intended. “A lot of times you could see their nipples… Anything that was too sexy was out,” Abdalla said.
Kevin Sr. reportedly expressed concerns that this imagery might lead to his sons being “perceived as too sexual,” requesting that such footage be toned down or cropped.
Another incident that aggravated Kevin Sr. was a 2009 South Park episode that parodied the Jonas Brothers. The satirical show poked fun at their purity rings and portrayed an exaggerated version of the foam scene from their concert film, leading to a clash between their wholesome Disney image and their undeniable appeal to young fans. According to Spencer, Kevin Sr. was “not pleased” with the episode. “Their father was super offended,” Abdalla recalled in the book, though she admitted, “The foam thing does look a little weird.”
Nick Jonas also addressed the South Park episode years later, admitting that at first, he didn’t find the parody funny. However, during a 2016 Reddit Ask Me Anything, Nick reflected, “Once the purity rings were no longer around, it was very funny to me.”
While Kevin Sr. and his team may have felt the episode was damaging, Disney executives had a different perspective. Anne Sweeney, former president of Disney Channel, revealed in Disney High that the network was “thrilled” by the South Park parody, as it indicated that the Jonas Brothers—and by extension, Disney—had become a significant cultural touchstone. “I thought it was funny,” Sweeney said, noting that it showed how much the rest of the entertainment world had taken notice of Disney’s rising stars.
As the Jonas Brothers navigated their way through fame, it’s clear their image was carefully curated—sometimes with more oversight than fans might have realized.
Related topics: