The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual misconduct. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
Nick Carter has been accused of rape in a civil lawsuit filed yesterday (December 8) by Shannon "Shay" Ruth, who alleges that Carter raped her on his tour bus after a Backstreet Boys concert in Tacoma, WA, in 2001. Ruth was 17 at the time of the alleged rape.
Ruth's suit claims that the singer chose her from a group of fans seeking autographs after the concert, gave her an alcoholic beverage that he called "VIP juice" and assaulted her, attacking her verbally and leaving bruises on her arms. The lawsuit also alleges that Carter assaulted three other anonymous women between 2003 and 2006 using similar methods.
In a statement to Page Six, Carter's lawyer Michael Holtz called the allegations "not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue" and claimed that Ruth was being manipulated by "an opportunistic lawyer."
This isn't the first time that Carter has been accused of rape — in 2017, Dream member Melissa Schuman penned a blog post accusing Carter of raping her on the set of a TV movie in 2002. Carter denied those allegations as well, and he avoided prosecution.
In response to the most recent allegations, ABC has cancelled a Backstreet Boys holiday special that was set to air next week, per The Hollywood Reporter. A Very Backstreet Holiday was tied to the group's new album of the same name, which was released in October.
Nick Carter has been accused of rape in a civil lawsuit filed yesterday (December 8) by Shannon "Shay" Ruth, who alleges that Carter raped her on his tour bus after a Backstreet Boys concert in Tacoma, WA, in 2001. Ruth was 17 at the time of the alleged rape.
Ruth's suit claims that the singer chose her from a group of fans seeking autographs after the concert, gave her an alcoholic beverage that he called "VIP juice" and assaulted her, attacking her verbally and leaving bruises on her arms. The lawsuit also alleges that Carter assaulted three other anonymous women between 2003 and 2006 using similar methods.
In a statement to Page Six, Carter's lawyer Michael Holtz called the allegations "not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue" and claimed that Ruth was being manipulated by "an opportunistic lawyer."
This isn't the first time that Carter has been accused of rape — in 2017, Dream member Melissa Schuman penned a blog post accusing Carter of raping her on the set of a TV movie in 2002. Carter denied those allegations as well, and he avoided prosecution.
In response to the most recent allegations, ABC has cancelled a Backstreet Boys holiday special that was set to air next week, per The Hollywood Reporter. A Very Backstreet Holiday was tied to the group's new album of the same name, which was released in October.
