Backstreet Boys Christmas Series Pulled After Latest Nick Carter Rape Allegation

By Kayleigh Donaldson | TV | December 9, 2022 |

By Kayleigh Donaldson | TV | December 9, 2022 |

ABC have pulled a Backstreet Boys Christmas special after a woman filed a civil suit against Nick Carter, alleging rape.

Shannon Ruth, now 39, claims that Carter raped her when she was 17. The suit details how Carter allegedly invited her onto the Backstreet Boys tour bus during a stop in Tacoma, Washington. He then reportedly ‘gave her a funny tasting beverage that he called VIP juice’ before raping her. Ruth also alleges that Carter infected her with HPV and claimed that ‘no one would ever believe in her’ because of her disability (Ruth has cerebral palsy and is autistic.) During the news conference, Ruth said, ‘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.’ Her complaint includes allegations from three other Jane Does, including a 15-year-old, who also say that Carter sexually assaulted them and infected them with HPV.

A Very Backstreet Holiday was slated for a December 14 release but is no longer on ABC’s holiday specials guide. Instead, repeats of some of the network’s comedies will air in that slot. Carter’s lawyer refutes the allegations and claims that Ruth ‘has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick.’

In 2019, Carter’s late younger brother Aaron made allegations of life-long abuse against Nick. Carter and his legal team also denied these allegations, which came after he and their sister, Angel, filed restraining orders against Aaron. Carter was also accused of sexually assaulting Melissa Schuman, a former member of the all-girl pop group Dream, in 2002. He claims the sex was consensual.