Pop star Nick Carter is retaliating against a woman who has accused him of rape by filing a counter suit, claiming she is trying to damage his reputation and brand.
Rising to fame as part of the Backstreet Boys, Carter has faced allegations of sexual assault from three women in multiple lawsuits. Melissa Schuman, a former member of the girl group Dream, has accused Carter of forcibly raping her in lawsuits filed in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Carter has vehemently denied all accusations and has filed a counter suit against Schuman in Los Angeles. According to the filing, during their time working on the TV movie “The Hollow,” Schuman visited Carter’s Santa Monica apartment with a friend, while Carter had his own friend present as well.
While Schuman alleges that Carter assaulted her in two of the apartment’s bathrooms before raping her in the bedroom, Carter maintains that their encounter was consensual. He claims they engaged in consensual sex in his bed with their friends nearby on the floor.
FROM THE ARCHIVES | Backstreet Boy Nick Carter was accused of rape
In his filing, Carter accuses Schuman of fabricating the allegations to revive her failing career, referencing a video she posted on YouTube in 2014 about becoming popular online. The filing also mentions that Schuman has not been involved in any projects since 2015.
Carter is seeking at least $2.5 million in damages for lost opportunities and emotional distress caused by the accusations. He claims to have suffered financial losses from canceled partnerships and endorsements, as well as reduced compensation from tour venues, with one venue even canceling his concert.
This article was originally published by Lauren Silver on Court TV.
