Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys facing third sexual assault lawsuit
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Nick Carter: The Backstreet Boys singer was accused of sexual assault by a third woman in a lawsuit that was filed on Monday. (Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for On Our Sleeves)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LAS VEGAS — Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter has been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed Monday in a Nevada court.
It is the third time that Carter, 43, has been accused of rape. Monday’s lawsuit was filed Monday in Clark County, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The singer’s lawyers have alleged that the latest lawsuit is part of a conspiracy against him.
The lawsuit was filed by a Pennsylvania woman identified only as “A.R.” and alleges that Carter raped her on his yacht in 2003, when she was 15, according to the newspaper. The woman also alleged that the singer gave her drugs and alcohol and assaulted her “multiple times” during a two-month period.
In a lawsuit filed in Clark County, a Pennsylvania woman says Nick Carter sexually assaulted her on his yacht when she was 15.https://t.co/skIkstAPfg
The lawsuit was filed in District Court because of Carter’s Las Vegas address, the Review-Journal reported.
The lawsuit alleges sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress against Carter, according to KLAS-TV.
“The impacts of Carter’s sexual abuse are ceaseless, causing plaintiff severe emotional distress, physical anguish, intimacy issues, and other complex trauma,” the accuser’s attorneys wrote, according to court documents.
According to Billboard, Carter is already facing lawsuits from Shannon “Shay” Ruth, a woman who alleges that the singer sexually assaulted her when she was 17; and Melissa Schuman, a former member of teen-pop group Dream who has claimed that she was assaulted by the singer.
In an emailed statement Wednesday to the Review-Journal, Carter’s attorneys said that police investigated the woman’s claims “almost two decades ago,” and found that “her allegations were meritless.”
“Subsequently, in a separate incident, A.R was threatened with criminal charges for filing a false police report,” the statement said. “And now she’s at it yet again. But repeating the same false allegations in a new legal complaint doesn’t make them any more true.”
Carter appeared in District Court on Wednesday for a hearing in connection with the lawsuit filed in December 2022 by Ruth, the Review-Journal reported.
Carter filed a counterclaim against Ruth, alleging that she was part of a conspiracy to defame and extort him, according to court documents. He alleged that Ruth was recruited by Schuman.
Carter also filed a counterclaim against Schuman, which District Judge Nancy Allf declined to dismiss during a hearing, according to the newspaper. Allf had previously dismissed Carter’s claim against Ruth in March 2023.
Carter’s attorneys have contended that police have cleared the singer of any wrongdoing in the investigations.
A.R.’s attorney, John Kawai, told Billboard he believes a lack of criminal charges should not stop his client from suing Carter.
“Abusers can take notice that just because they avoided prison doesn’t mean they don’t have to answer to a jury for their actions,” he said.
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Backstreet Boys Through The Years 28 Jan 2001: The Backstreet Boys wait to peform the National Anthem before the Super Bowl XXXV Game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport (Andy Lyons)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years The Backstreet Boys at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center In Los Angeles, Ca. Feb. 27, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. (Kevin Winter)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years 44th Annual Grammy Awards 401611 140: Backstreet Boys attend the 44th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center February 27, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years 'United We Stand' Benefit Concert 396190 04: Members of music group Backstreet Boys (L-R) Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough attend the 'United We Stand' benefit concert October 21, 2001 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years LOS ANGELES - APRIL 4: The Backstreet Boys attends the press room for Motown 45, a celebration of music that established the record label at the Shrine Auditorium April 4, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) (Mark Mainz)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years HOLLYWOOD - FEBRUARY 11: The Backstreet Boys perform onstage at the MusiCares 2005 Person of the Year Tribute to Brian Wilson at the Palladium on February 11, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) (Frank Micelotta)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years NEW YORK - JUNE 10: (L-R) Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, and AJ McLean of The Backstreet Boys pose for a photo onstage during the Toyota Concert Series on the "Today" Show June 10, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) (Scott Gries)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson attend the UK Premiere of "Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of" at Dominion Theatre on February 25, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images) (Ben A. Pruchnie)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 02: (L-R) Recording artsits Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson of music group Backstreet Boys attend the 52nd Academy Of Country Music Awards at Toshiba Plaza on April 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 20: (L-R) Singers Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys arrive at Sugar Factory American Brasserie at the Fashion Show mall on April 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller)
Backstreet Boys Through The Years NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 18: Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, and AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys speak onstage at the 2017 CMT Artists Of The Year on October 18, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT) (Rick Diamond)
