The Backstreet Boys Christmas special that was filmed this month in Los Angeles has been canceled following the rape allegations against Nick Carter.
The special aired on ABC on December 14 and features Carter, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough, but Variety confirmed that it has been cancelled.
It comes after Carter, 42, was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl on a tour bus during the band’s 2001 tour.
Canceled: The Backstreet Boys Christmas special that was shot this month in Los Angeles has been canceled following the rape allegations against Nick Carter; The band photographed in 2022
The holiday-themed special was going to see the band members perform hits from their 10th album, A Very Backstreet Christmas.
Celebrities appearing in the special included Seth Rogen, Meghan Trainor, Nikki Glaser, Rob Riggle, Ron Funches and Atsuko Okatsuka.
The disabled woman who alleges Carter raped her wept during a press conference Thursday announcing her lawsuit against the star, who has since denied the allegations.
Axed: The special aired on ABC on December 14 and features Carter (second from left) AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough, but Variety confirmed that it has been axed; The group photographed in 2001
In her lawsuit, Shannon ‘Shay’ Ruth, now 39, who has autism and cerebral palsy, claims the Backstreet Boys singer invited her on his tour bus when she was 17 after the band’s concert in Tacoma , Washington in February 2001 after seeing her waiting. in the autograph line.
Ruth claims the star pulled down his pants and exposed himself to her in a bathroom, before allegedly forcing her to perform oral sex with him and then raping her.
Ruth detailed the “pain, confusion, frustration, embarrassment and self-harm” caused by the alleged incident and claimed Carter “threatened her and tried to silence her” in the immediate aftermath.
Claim: It comes after Carter, 42, was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl during the band’s 2001 tour (Carter pictured in 2019)
Ruth’s attorney, Mark J. Boskovich, said three other women – named only as Jane Doe – are named in a joint lawsuit along with Ruth.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Ruth alleges that she was invited on the tour bus, Carter asked her if she wanted a drink; after asking for apple juice, she claims Carter offered her cranberry and gave her a “red-colored” drink she called “VIP Juice.”
Ruth claims the drink tasted “bad” as she drank it and says she thinks it was a mixture of cranberry juice and alcohol.
Lawsuit: Shannon Ruth (pictured center), who alleges Carter raped her on a tour bus in 2001 when she was under 17, cried during a press conference Thursday announcing her lawsuit against the star.
Ruth claimed Carter took her to the bus bathroom and ordered her to perform oral sex on her. Ruth alleges that she was crying the entire time, but Carter “kept instructing her.”
Ruth further claims that Carter took her to a bed on the bus and continued his alleged sexual assault.
She then claims that she told Carter she would tell people about the alleged assault, but he reportedly threatened to turn her on people, allegedly calling her a “whore whore nobody would do.” to believe.’
Carter appears in September 2001, seven months after the alleged rape
She said: “The past 21 years have been full of pain, confusion, frustration, shame and self-harm which is a direct result of Nick Carter’s rape.
“Even though I’m autistic and live with cerebral palsy, I don’t think anything has affected me more or had a more lasting impact on my life than what Nick Carter did and said to me.
She alleged: “After he raped me, I remember him calling me ******* little bitch and grabbing me and leaving bruises on my arm.”
He added: “Carter tried to scare me into silence… he was nasty and threatening.”
“He told people he was going to turn people against me and because he was Nick Carter, he had the power to destroy my life.”
She said she was motivated to speak out to “prevent” Carter from “attacking more teenagers and women.”
Alleged: A tearful Ruth detailed her “pain, confusion, frustration, shame and self-harm” caused by the alleged rape and claimed Carter “threatened her and tried to silence her” in the immediate aftermath (the singer appears in the photograph in 2001)
Ruth claims she contracted a sexually transmitted infection, the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection from the alleged assault, having previously been a virgin.
He is now seeking damages.
She said: “Just because Nick Carter is a celebrity doesn’t mean he’s excused from his crimes.” I am a survivor and always will be.
He said: “Nick Carter has a long history of abusing women,” adding that the music industry has allegedly “turned a blind eye” in the past.
Alleged victim: A sobbing Ruth (pictured center) claims the star forced her to perform oral sex with him before allegedly raping her.
He said: “Shay is determined to bring Carter to justice. She believes other women are worth protecting.”
A source close to Nick has denied the allegations, telling TMZ: “This allegation is categorically false, Nick is focused on his family and mourning the death of his brother.”
Carter’s younger brother, Aaron Carter, was found dead at the age of 34 in his bathtub in Lancaster, California on November 5. No cause of death has been officially declared, but it is known that he struggled with mental health issues and addictions.
Carter’s attorney, Michael Holtz, called the allegations “completely false” in a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday.
Denied: A source close to Nick has denied the allegations, telling the publication: “This allegation is categorically false, Nick is focused on his family and mourning the death of his brother (pictured in 2001)
“This claim about an incident that allegedly took place over 20 years ago is not only without legal merit, it is also completely false,” he said.
Holtz said that “unfortunately, for several years, Ms. Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick, and those allegations have repeatedly and materially changed over time.”
He added: “No one should be fooled by a press stunt orchestrated by an opportunistic lawyer – there is nothing wrong with this claim, which we have no doubt the courts will quickly see.”
Carter has personally remained silent on the allegations, but shared a post promoting a benefit concert for Aaron on Thursday hours before the claims came to light.
Carter has previously faced allegations of rape, which he has denied, and has never been charged with a crime.
In 2017, singer Melissa Schuman said the boy bander allegedly raped her in 2003.
In 2018, the LA County District Attorney’s Office announced that it would not file charges against Carter due to the statute of limitations, which expired in 2013.
Melissa, who belongs to the 90s girl group Dream, had filed the police report in February that year.
RIP: Nick’s brother Aaron Carter was found dead aged 34 in his bathtub in Lancaster, California on November 5 (pictured in his last interview)
Post: Nick Carter has so far remained silent on the allegations, but did share a post promoting a benefit concert for Aaron on Thursday, hours before the claims came to light
She claimed that in 2003 Nick had pushed her into the bathroom for forced oral sex and then claimed that she was raped in the bedroom.
Nick has denied the rape allegations.
The Backstreet Boys star later said in a statement that she was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations.
He said: “Melissa has never expressed to me while we were together or at any time that anything we did was non-consensual.”
Nick added that he was “always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally.”
He concluded in the statement that “this is the first time I have heard of these accusations almost two decades later.” It is against my nature and against everything I hold dear to intentionally cause discomfort or harm to anyone.
He continued, noting that they “recorded a song and performed together.”
Melissa originally made the allegations in a November blog post.
She claimed that Nick, who allegedly took her virginity when she was 18 and he was 22, “forced her to take part in an act against my will”.
Previous claim: In 2017, singer Melissa Schuman accused Nick of raping her in 2003; he denied the claims and has never been charged with a crime (pictured in 2018)