Nick Carter counter-suing alleged rape victim and claims suit is a 'smear campaign' which saw his late brother Aaron 'manipulated' to back accusers - after disabled woman accused him of 2001 assault
- Nick Carter's attorney Michael Holtz said: 'As our Counterclaim sets out in detail, Nick has been the target of a malicious and long-running conspiracy.
- 'He has never done the outrageous things of which he has been accused; in fact, he is the victim of a calculated and concerted disinformation campaign
- 'He looks forward to setting out the truth, vindicating himself in court'
Nick Carter is counter-suing a disabled woman who accused him of raping her on a tour bus in 2001 - claiming she cost his band The Backstreet Boys $2.35m.
In December 2022, Shannon 'Shay' Ruth, 39, who has autism and cerebral palsy, claimed the singer, 43, invited her on to his tour bus when she was a minor aged 17 following the band's concert in Tacoma, Washington in February 2001 and assaulted her.
Ruth's attorney Mark J. Boskovich said three other women - named only as Jane Doe - were named in a joint lawsuit alongside her. Carter has vehemently denied all claims.
On Thursday, singer Carter filed his countersuit against Ruth, reports TMZ, alleging she has been coached by his former rape accuser Melissa Schuman and her father Jerome to make false claims and 'inflate' her allegations 'as part of an extortion attempt.
Carter further claims the trio are using the #MeToo movement to their advantage, and that Ruth has repeatedly changed her story of the alleged rape, first saying she was abused by someone else, then claiming Carter physically accused her before making the sexual assault claims.
![Denied: Nick Carter is counter-suing a disabled woman who accused him of raping her on a tour bus in 2001 - claiming she cost his band The Backstreet Boys $2.35m (pictured 207)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/19/67263869-0-image-a-50_1675364769361.jpg)
Denied: Nick Carter is counter-suing a disabled woman who accused him of raping her on a tour bus in 2001 - claiming she cost his band The Backstreet Boys $2.35m (pictured 207)
![Claims: In December 2022, Shannon 'Shay' Ruth, 39 (pictured center), who has autism and cerebral palsy, claimed the singer, 43, invited her on to his tour bus when she was a minor aged 17 following the band's concert in Tacoma, Washington in February 2001 and assaulted her](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/19/67263945-0-image-a-51_1675364791612.jpg)
Claims: In December 2022, Shannon 'Shay' Ruth, 39 (pictured center), who has autism and cerebral palsy, claimed the singer, 43, invited her on to his tour bus when she was a minor aged 17 following the band's concert in Tacoma, Washington in February 2001 and assaulted her
The lawsuit reportedly states Nick again denies the allegations and that he 'won't allow himself to be smeared' by the claims, further claiming her lawsuit is the 'culmination of a years-long conspiracy to take him down.'
Carter's counterclaim reiterates that Ruth waited years to make her rape claims and that an independent investigation resulted in no criminal charges.
He also claims Ruth's civil attorneys abandoned her case when they analyzed the facts.
Carter alleges that due to Ruth's lawsuit, The Backstreet Boys had to cancel appearances and brand deals which saw them lose more than $2.35 million.
Carter further claims Ruth and the Schumans exploited his late brother Aaron before his death, using his feud with his elder brother to add credence to their claims.
They claim the trio exploited 'Aaron's fragile condition and family stresses to cloak their defamatory campaign with credibility, relentlessly and repeatedly using Aaron to try to legitimize their frivolous tales.'
It was claimed Aaron - who died in November aged 34 - realized he was being manipulated, leading him to apologize to his estranged brother and 'publicly state' the rape accusers were lying.
Carter also claims that the day Aaron died, Jerome Schuman tweeted: 'I am sad that the chess game we started together was never finished.'
![Carter is pictured in September 2001 - seven months after the alleged rape](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/19/65397609-0-Carter_is_pictured_in_September_2001_seven_months_after_the_alle-m-53_1675364881122.jpg)
Carter is pictured in September 2001 - seven months after the alleged rape
![RIP: Carter further claims Ruth and the Schumans exploited his late brother Aaron before his death, using his feud with his elder brother to add credence to their claims (pictured in his final interview)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/19/65093183-0-RIP_Nick_s_brother_Aaron_Carter_was_found_dead_aged_34_in_his_ba-a-54_1675364894938.jpg)
RIP: Carter further claims Ruth and the Schumans exploited his late brother Aaron before his death, using his feud with his elder brother to add credence to their claims (pictured in his final interview)
![Past claim: On Thursday, singer Carter filed his countersuit against Ruth, reports TMZ , alleging she has been coached by his former rape accuser Melissa Schuman and her father Jerome to make false claims and 'inflate' her allegations 'as part of an extortion attempt (pictured 2018)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/19/65398439-0-Past_claim_In_2017_singer_Melissa_Schuman_accused_Nick_of_raping-a-55_1675364943054.jpg)
Past claim: On Thursday, singer Carter filed his countersuit against Ruth, reports TMZ , alleging she has been coached by his former rape accuser Melissa Schuman and her father Jerome to make false claims and 'inflate' her allegations 'as part of an extortion attempt (pictured 2018)
![Band: Carter alleges that due to Ruth's lawsuit, The Backstreet Boys had to cancel appearances and brand deals which saw them lose more than $2.35 million (pictured December 2022)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/19/67263771-11707159-image-a-63_1675365232807.jpg)
Band: Carter alleges that due to Ruth's lawsuit, The Backstreet Boys had to cancel appearances and brand deals which saw them lose more than $2.35 million (pictured December 2022)
Nick Carter's attorney Michael Holtz told DailyMail.com: 'As our Counterclaim sets out in detail, Nick has been the target of a malicious and long-running conspiracy.
'He has never done the outrageous things of which he has been accused; in fact, he is the victim of a calculated and concerted disinformation campaign designed to destroy his reputation.
'He looks forward to setting out the truth, vindicating himself in court, and putting an end to the smears and attempted shakedowns for good.'
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Nick Carter and Melissa Schuman for comment.
This comes two months after Ruth publicly accused Carter of rape during a press conference announcing her lawsuit against the star
She claimed Carter invited her onto his tour bus after seeing her waiting for an autograph.
Ruth claims the star pulled down his trousers and exposed himself to her in a bathroom - before allegedly forcing her to perform oral sex on him and then raping her.
She detailed the 'pain, confusion, frustration, shame and self-harm' brought on by the alleged incident and claimed Carter 'threatened and tried to silence her' in the immediate aftermath.
Ruth's attorney Mark J. Boskovich said three other women - named only as Jane Doe - are named in a joint lawsuit alongside her.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Ruth alleges she was invited on to the bus and Carter asked if she wanted a drink - after requesting apple juice, she claims he offered her cranberry and gave her a 'red coloured' drink he called 'VIP juice'.
![Lawsuit: Shannon Ruth sobbed during a press conference in December announcing her lawsuit against the star](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/08/22/65395821-11517975-image-a-14_1670537294835.jpg)
Lawsuit: Shannon Ruth sobbed during a press conference in December announcing her lawsuit against the star
![A sobbing Ruth detailed her 'pain, confusion, frustration, shame and self-harm' brought on by the alleged rape and claimed Carter 'threatened and tried to silence her' in the immediate aftermath (the singer is pictured in 2001)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/18/65389561-11517975-A_sobbing_Ruth_detailed_her_pain_confusion_frustration_shame_and-a-26_1675360978043.jpg)
Alleged: A sobbing Ruth detailed her 'pain, confusion, frustration, shame and self-harm' brought on by the alleged rape and claimed Carter 'threatened and tried to silence her' in the immediate aftermath (the singer is pictured in 2001)
Ruth claims the drink tasted 'off' as she drank it and says she believes it was a mix of cranberry juice and alcohol.
It was claimed by Ruth that Carter took her to the bus bathroom and ordered her to perform oral sex on him. She alleges she was crying throughout but Carter 'kept instructing her'.
And she further claims Carter then took her to a bed on the bus and continued his alleged sexual assault.
She claims afterwards that she told Carter she would tell people about the alleged assault - but that he reportedly threatened to turn people against her, allegedly calling her a 'r******* little b**** that no one would believe'.
She 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.
She alleged: 'After he raped me, I remember him calling me a r******* little b**** and grabbing me and leaving bruises on my arm.
She added: 'Carter tried to scare me into silence … he was nasty and threatening.'
'He told people he would turn people against me and because he was Nick Carter, he had the power to wreck my life.'
She said she was motivated to speak out to 'stop' Carter from 'assaulting more teens and women.'
Ruth claims she contracted sexual transmitted infection, Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) from the alleged assault, having been a virgin beforehand.
She is now seeking damages.
She said: 'Just because Nick Carter is a celebrity does not mean that he is excused from his crimes. I am a survivor and always will be.'
Mr Boskovich claimed 'Nick Carter has a long history of abusing women' and added that the music industry has allegedly 'looked away' in the past
He added: 'Shay is determined to bring Carter to justice. She believes it’s worth it to protect other women.'
Following the allegations, the Backstreet Boys Christmas special that was filmed this month in Los Angeles has been cancelled, according to Variety.
A source close to Carter has denied the allegations and told TMZ: 'This accusation is categorically false, Nick is focusing on his family and mourning the death of his brother.'
Carter's younger brother Aaron Carter was found dead aged 34 in his bathtub in Lancaster, California, on November 5.
No cause of death has been officially declared, but he was known to have struggled with mental health problems and addictions.
Carter's attorney Michael Holtz called the allegations 'entirely untrue' in a statement to DailyMail.com on Thursday.
'This claim about an incident that supposedly took place more than 20 years ago is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue,' he said.
Mr Holtz said: '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.'
He added: '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 realise.'
Carter personally has remained silent on the allegations - but shared a post promoting a charity concert for Aaron on Thursday - hours before the claims came to light.
Carter has previously faced rape allegations - which he has denied - he has never been charged with any crimes.
In 2017 singer Melissa Schuman said that the boy bander allegedly raped her in 2003.
In 2018 the LA County District Attorney's office announced it would not press charges against Carter due to the statute of limitations, which expired in 2013.
Melissa, who is from the 90s girl group named Dream, had filed the police report in February that year.
She claimed that in 2003 Nick had pushed her in a bathroom for forced oral sex and then claimed she was raped in the bedroom.
Nick has denied allegations of rape.
Later the Backstreet Boys star said in a statement that he was 'shocked and saddened' about the accusations.
He said: 'Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not 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 that I am hearing about these accusations nearly two decades later. It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause someone discomfort or harm.'
He continued, noting that they 'went on to record a song and perform together.'
Melissa originally made the allegations in a November blog post.
She claimed that she was 'forced to engage in an act against my will' by Nick, who allegedly took her virginity when she was 18 and he was 22.
![Denied: A source close to Nick has denied the allegations and told the publication: 'This accusation is categorically false, Nick is focusing on his family and mourning the death of his brother' (pictured 2001)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/18/65389563-11517975-Denied_A_source_close_to_Nick_has_denied_the_allegations_and_tol-a-25_1675360978037.jpg)
Denied: A source close to Nick has denied the allegations and told the publication: 'This accusation is categorically false, Nick is focusing on his family and mourning the death of his brother' (pictured 2001)
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