Nick Carter, a member of the popular boy band Backstreet Boys, is taking legal action against two women who have accused him of rape over fifteen years ago. In December, Shannon Ruth filed a lawsuit against the 43-year-old singer for sexual battery, but Carter has since filed a countersuit against both Ruth and Melissa Schuman, a former teen pop musician from the girl band “Dream.”
According to the countersuit, obtained by PEOPLE, Carter argues that the two women exploited the #MeToo movement to launch a five-year conspiracy to “defame and vilify Carter and otherwise ruin his reputation for the purposes of garnering attention and fame and/or extorting money from Carter.”
Nick Carter Strikes Back: Countersues Accusers In Sexual Assault Case
The countersuit characterizes the two women as “opportunists” who set out to “destroy innocent lives” and has resulted in over $2.3 million in business losses. In response to the countersuit, Ruth’s attorney, Mark J. Boskovich, told Page Six, “Why should Nick Carter be believed with his long history of abusing females? A jury will weigh the evidence and decide.”
Schuman, who is now 38 years old, accused Carter of raping her when they were working on a project together in the early 2000s. Schuman claimed that she was 18 years old and a virgin at the time, while Carter was 22. She stated that Carter allegedly performed oral sex on her despite her objections and then led her to his bedroom where she claims he raped her.
Ruth, who has autism and cerebral palsy, made her accusations in December during a press conference. She claimed that after a 2001 Backstreet Boys show in Tacoma, Washington, Carter invited her to his bus and gave her a drink, which he called “VIP juice,” after she requested apple juice. Ruth is convinced that the red-colored drink also contained alcohol.
Carter has previously denied both allegations, and the countersuit states that he believes he has never met Ruth. The countersuit also alleges that Schuman and her father, Jerome Schuman, groomed Ruth, who was “a vulnerable and highly impressionable individual, craving attention and desperate to fit in.”
The countersuit claims that Schuman took advantage of her late brother, Aaron Carter, who died in November, to legitimize their claims. The lawsuit states that Aaron acknowledged he was being manipulated and apologized to Carter before his death, and publicly declared that Schuman and Ruth were liars.
The countersuit is Carter’s attempt to vindicate himself, as the suit states, “Just as true victims of sexual assault have the right to seek justice and be heard, so too do persons falsely accused of sexual assault have the right to due process of law and to defend themselves by speaking the truth.” Carter’s attorneys did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
This legal battle is sure to be a heated one, with both sides passionately fighting for their cause. With Nick Carter‘s reputation and livelihood at stake, it remains to be seen what the outcome of this case will be. Will he be able to prove his innocence and clear his name, or will the allegations against him be proven true? This case will have everyone on the edge of their seats, as they eagerly await the final verdict.
