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Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter has filed a US$2.5-million (C$3.42 million) countersuit in opposition to one in every of a number of girls who’ve accused him of rape and sexual assault.
Carter has denied all allegations made by Melissa Schuman, a former member of the lady group Dream, in her April 2023 lawsuit filed in opposition to him for sexual assault and battery. He’s suing her for defamation and interference with current and potential enterprise contracts.
Schuman instructed the courtroom the 44-year-old singer sexually assaulted and raped her at his Santa Monica, Calif., condo in 2003 after giving her a sedative. On the time, Carter (then 22) and Schuman (then 18) have been co-workers filming the thriller film The Hole.
Carter’s counterclaim was filed within the Superior Court docket of California in Los Angeles County on July 26 however has solely just lately come to public mild.
By his legal professionals, Carter stated Schuman’s lawsuit brought about him to lose US$2.5 million in enterprise partnership offers with MeUndies, VRBO, Roblox and The Youngsters’s Place, in keeping with a Rolling Stone report. Carter additionally stated ticket gross sales for his exhibits have slowed because of thes lawsuit, resulting in much less revenue.
One live performance venue cancelled his live performance look totally and “price Carter tons of of 1000’s of {dollars},” the lawsuit reads.
Carter’s countersuit maintains he has been “falsely accused” of wrongdoing by Schuman, who has a “thirst for Web relevance.” His lawsuit claims Carter and Schuman had a “flirtatious” dynamic previous to having consensual intercourse in 2003.
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Schuman first accused Carter of rape and sexual assault in a weblog submit from 2017.
Carter additionally has one other defamation go well with filed in opposition to Schuman in Las Vegas. The authorized submitting argues Schuman and one other one in every of his accusers, Shannon Ruth, tarnished his public picture with false allegations.
Ruth stated Carter raped and sexually assaulted her when she was 17 years previous.
She stated Carter invited her onto a tour bus after a Backstreet Boys live performance in Tacoma, Wash., the place she alleges that he gave her alcohol and compelled her to carry out oral intercourse earlier than he raped her. Ruth additionally claims she contracted HPV from Carter.
Carter has referred to as each girls “opportunists” who’re conspiring to reap the benefits of the #MeToo motion to extort, “defame and vilify” him for monetary acquire.
He stated the Nevada lawsuit filed by Schuman and Ruth brought about him and the Backstreet Boys to lose US$2.3 million (about C$3.15 million) in enterprise offers from firms together with ABC and Roblox.
In an announcement to Rolling Stone, Schuman’s lawyer criticized each Carter’s Nevada counterclaim and his new one in California.
“Carter’s California counter-claim makes the identical arguments as his stalled Nevada lawsuit, and each present that his strategy to defend sexual assault claims is to assault the victims,” lawyer Karen Barth Menzies instructed the outlet.
Schuman and Ruth each appeared within the just lately launched docuseries Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, the place they once more detailed their allegations in opposition to Carter.
On the time, Carter’s lawyer referred to as Schuman and Ruth, in addition to accuser Ashley Repp, a “gang of conspirators” with “outrageous claims.”
Repp has alleged Carter raped her when she was 15 years previous.
Carter has by no means confronted any legal expenses in relation to the sexual allegations in opposition to him.
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In the event you or somebody you already know is experiencing abuse or is concerned in an abusive scenario, please go to the Canadian Useful resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They’re additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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