A recent court appearance in Beverly Hills, California, involved allegations against Nick Carter, a member of the Backstreet Boys. The case centers on claims of rape and physical assault made by a 17-year-old autistic fan who asserts the incident occurred during a band tour in 2001.
The woman identified as Shannon Ruth, who is 39 years old, addressed reporters after filing the case. She was joined by three other victims who chose anonymity while condemning the alleged assault carried out by Carter at that time.
Ruth spoke tearfully about the lasting impact of the alleged acts, saying the experience brought years of pain, confusion, shame, and self-harm. She described the events as a defining moment in her life and emphasized the ongoing effects of the assault.
on the bus
The complaint describes how the alleged incident followed a Backstreet Boys performance in Tacoma, Washington. It is claimed that after the concert, Carter invited the plaintiff onto a tour bus where further harm allegedly occurred.
The plaintiff states that Carter forced her to drink alcohol and then placed her on a bed inside the bus, where she says she was sexually assaulted and raped. She described the moment of the assault with painful specifics, noting the use of derogatory language and physical injuries on her arm. She also stated she was a virgin at the time and that she was diagnosed with human papillomavirus in the aftermath, with the other plaintiffs reporting similar experiences.
The victim described the assault as a life-altering event that affected her sense of safety and trust. Ruth received support from her legal counsel, who presented the case as an effort to halt harm against young fans and women and to signal that the music industry should not overlook such claims. The attorney urged others who may have been affected to come forward, inviting them to contact the team handling the case.
previous accusation
The case sits against a backdrop of earlier allegations. In 2017, Carter faced a rape accusation from singer Melissa Schuman, a former member of the group Dream. The claim, alleged to have occurred two decades prior, did not lead to criminal charges. The ongoing case emerges in a period of renewed public attention to past claims involving Carter and other figures in the entertainment industry.
The recent filing arrives not long after the death of Carter’s younger brother, Aaron Carter, whose passing occurred in a Lancaster home in California. The timing adds a layer of national attention to the broader conversation about accountability and survivors seeking justice in the entertainment world.