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Backstreet Boys’ member Nick Carter sued over alleged 2001 rape of autistic teenager

Backstreet Boys’ member Nick Carter sued over alleged 2001 rape of autistic teenager

The now 39-year-old woman with cerebral palsy claims he made her perform oral sex on him and forced himself on her.
10 Dec, 2022

A woman with cerebral palsy who claims she was raped as a teenager by Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter lodged a civil lawsuit against the singer in the United States on Thursday.

Shannon Ruth, now 39, said the singer forced her to perform oral sex on him on a tour bus after a show in 2001, and then raped her.

Attorney Mark Boskovich told a virtual press conference that Ruth, who was then 17, had been queuing for an autograph after a Backstreet Boys show in Tacoma, Washington, when Carter invited her onto the bus.

“He gave her a funny tasting beverage that he called VIP juice,” Boskovich told reporters. Then “Carter took her to the bus’s bathroom and told her to get on her knees, and he pulled down his pants and exposed his genitals ordering (her) to perform sexual acts on him.”

Ruth, who was a virgin at the time, cried throughout the ordeal, but Carter persisted, Boskovich said. “Carter took (her) to a bed in the back of the bus. He pushed her onto the bed and proceeded to rape her, despite her pleas.”

After the sexual assault, Ruth, who is also autistic, said she would tell people what had happened. “He grabbed and bruised her arm and screamed at her,” the lawyer said, adding that Carter had called her “retarded” and said “no one would ever believe in her.”

Ruth, who has waived the right to anonymity that is customary for victims of sexual crimes, wept openly during the 30-minute press conference. “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 said.

The civil lawsuit, which was filed in Las Vegas, demands unspecified damages from the singer, whose hits as a member of the Backstreet Boys include ‘I Want It That Way’ and ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’.

The suit says the 42-year-old Carter — who has previously faced unproven claims of sexual assault, which he denied — also abused three other women. The three were not named, but Boskovich said lawyers had spoken to them.

Carter’s representatives did not respond to AFP requests for comment.

There was no mention of the lawsuit on Carter’s Twitter or Instagram accounts, which contained messages paying tribute to younger brother Aaron, who died last month.

Entertainment website TMZ quoted an unidentified source close to the singer as denying the claim. “This accusation is categorically false. Nick is focusing on his family and mourning the death of his brother,” the site reported the source saying.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Dec 10, 2022 11:21am
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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Anonymouseee Dec 10, 2022 11:50am
Innocent until proven guilty. There has to be proof otherwise nowadays this has become an easy money making business.
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Truth be told Dec 10, 2022 11:54am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad so you know the verified details and are hence commenting with such confidence?
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NYS Dec 10, 2022 12:00pm
Assaulting saga defined bit by bit what is left more to deny....
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Mani Dec 10, 2022 12:04pm
What was she expecting when she got on the bus?
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Murtaza Dec 10, 2022 12:38pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad you always comment this, I'm intrigued to ask do you know what it means? Does it fit the context? Or is it something you have learnt and think is flashy to write on every single article as a comment.
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Talha Dec 10, 2022 12:56pm
Brings to fore the problem with Western culture of sex without marriage... any woman can proceed to accuse a man of rape if she so desires and the man has little to defend himself. Even if he woman's claim later turns out to be false, the damage has already been done as in the case of this celebrity.
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FACT Dec 10, 2022 01:22pm
@Truth be told its a bot . Leave it alone
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M. Saeed Dec 10, 2022 01:59pm
What type of buses have toilets, big enough for two passengers to play-around and also have enclosed bedrooms?
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Cye Dec 10, 2022 02:59pm
Nick, What a jerk you are.
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Abbasshah Dec 10, 2022 04:06pm
@Truth be told ,He is only familiar with such phrases so used them frequently.
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someguy Dec 10, 2022 04:47pm
@Mani exactly
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Vj Dec 10, 2022 08:32pm
@M. Saeed Those are modified RVs. Search on internet.
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FA Dec 11, 2022 03:56am
@Anonymouseee it’s complicated with sexual assault. These things happen in private and therefor there is rarely categorical proof, especially as time goes on after the incident. And yet innocent until proven guilty is an important legal precedent. I’m not sure what the the answer is.
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FA Dec 11, 2022 03:57am
@Mani She was a teenage fan expecting an autograph from a musician she admired. Don’t victim blame.
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FA Dec 11, 2022 03:58am
@Talha Because don’t get raped in non Western countries? Or by their husbands? Or family members? Ok then…
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Arzoo Dec 11, 2022 06:53am
Karma always catches up ! Karma will get you in this world...however rich and powerful you might be!!
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Jigen.m19 Dec 11, 2022 09:00am
Prove it in a court of law
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