Singer Nick Carter has been accused of rape, prompting ABC to cancel the Backstreet Boys holiday special. CNN reports that Shannon Ruth, a 39-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and autism, is suing Carter for allegedly raping her on the Backstreet Boys’ tour bus in 2001 when Ruth was 17 years old. Carter, who recently mourned the loss of his brother Aaron Carter, denied the allegations in a written statement that reads, “This claim about an incident that supposedly took place more than 20 years ago is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue. Unfortunately, for several years now, Ms. Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick – and those allegations have changed repeatedly and materially over time.”
Disturbing Allegations About Nick Carter Costs Backstreet Boys Holiday Special
Shannon Ruth’s allegations against Nick Carter include picking her out of a line of autograph seekers, inviting her onto their tour bus, and giving her “VIP juice,” which she claims was a blend of cranberry juice and alcohol. Ruth claims that after the alleged assault, she contracted the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to cause genital warts and cervical cancer. Ruth said in a press conference, “The last 21 years have been filled with pain, confusion, frustration, shame, and self-harm that are a direct result of Nick Carter raping me.”
The Backstreet Boys Christmas special, A Very Backstreet Holiday, was set to air on December 14th. It will no longer air amid these allegations and the lawsuit against Carter.
This is not the first time Nick Carter has been accused of rape. In 2018, the singer was accused of raping former Dream member Melissa Schuman when she was 18. The case was dismissed due to an expired statute of limitations.
Nick Carter’s life has been layered with drama and legal issues. He recently suffered the loss of his brother, with whom he had an infamously complicated relationship. Due to these allegations and the loss of his special, he may be taking a major blow to his career.