Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter is accused of raping a woman over 20 years ago.
During a press conference on Thursday, 39-year-old Shannon "Shay" Ruth said the Carter sexually assaulted her in the band's tour bus in 2001 when she was a 17-year-old virgin.
Alongside her lawyer, 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."
"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," Ruth said.
Reports say three other anonymous women are named in a joint lawsuit filed alongside Ruth's.
According to Page Six, Carter's lawyer, Michael Holtz, is denying Ruth's claims.
"This claim about an incident that supposedly took place more than 20 years ago is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue." Holts said in a statement.
It says, "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. No one should be fooled by a press stunt orchestrated by an opportunistic lawyer – there is nothing to this claim whatsoever, which we have no doubt the courts will quickly realize."
Meanwhile, ABC has pulled the Backstreet Boys Christmas Special that was supposed to air on December 14.
feature image from Melodyschamble via wiki commons
