Nick Carter, a member of the 1990s pop boy band Backstreet Boys, has been accused of raping an autistic girl 20 years ago in a new lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed by Shannon “Shay” Ruth alleges Carter sexually assaulted her in 2001 when she was just 17, saying it filled her life with confusion and pain.
“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,” she said in a Facebook Livestream press conference alongside her lawyers.
“Even though I’m autistic and live with cerebral palsy, I believe that nothing has affected me more or had a more lasting impact on my life than what Nick Carter did and said to me,” she added. “After he raped me, I remember him calling me a ‘retarded bitch’ and grabbing me and leaving bruises on my arm.”
Ruth said she did not come forward earlier, believing she could “go to jail” over Carter’s alleged assault, according to Fox News.
Her attorney, Mark Boskovich, said in the press conference that three other women will be included in the lawsuit.
Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys performs onstage during iHeartRadio Channel 95.5’s Jingle Ball 2022 Presented by Capital One at Little Caesars Arena on December 06, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
“Nick Carter has a long history of abusing women,” Boskovich said. “Shay is determined to bring Carter to justice. She believes it’s worth it to protect other women.”
Representatives for Carter have not yet responded to the allegation. In 2017, he stood accused of sexual assault by pop singer Melissa Schuman. allegations that he vehemently denied.
“Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual. We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally,” he said at the time.
File/Singer Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys attends the Press Conference to Promote the Backstreet Boys New Album “Millennium” on May 17, 1999 at Studio 54 in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Prosecutors also declined to pursue charges against the singer, citing the statute of limitations.
“The reporting party alleged that, in 2003, she was the victim of a sexual assault perpetrated by the suspect in his apartment…,” prosecutors said. “The statute of limitations expired in 2013. Therefore, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence is not warranted, and the matter is declined.”