Nick Carter to Face Questions Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Nick Carter is expected to be questioned about sexual assault allegations by multiple women during a brief pause in the Backstreet Boys’ Las Vegas residency.

Reports suggest that Carter will testify under oath regarding claims made by Laura Penly, Melissa Schuman, and Shannon Ruth, as per Us Weekly. Schuman’s legal team mentioned that attempts to coordinate dates for his deposition haven’t been successful for all parties involved. They noted it “will likely last several days,” considering the number of participants in the case.

Carter and his fellow band members—Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, and Kevin Richardson—are currently conducting their residency at The Sphere. Their tour commenced in July and is scheduled to resume on December 26, continuing until mid-February. It appears Carter will need to navigate the deposition either during the break or amid the tour, according to Us Weekly.

“Schuman is set to be deposed in February. All the other plaintiffs and defendants, except for Carter, have already completed their depositions,” a source mentioned.

Ruth was the first to bring sexual assault allegations against Carter, claiming he assaulted her in 2001. Carter has denied these allegations and has countersued both her and Schuman.

Schuman, previously a pop artist, alleged that he assaulted her in 2002. Meanwhile, Carter’s countersuit even includes a claim against Schuman’s father, suggesting a conspiracy to falsely accuse him for financial gain. The women have denied these assertions.

Penly claimed Carter assaulted her in 2005 and was included in the lawsuit last April, as reported by Us Weekly. Carter’s legal team has rejected her accusations and maintained that his interaction with Schuman was consensual, referencing earlier rape allegations from 2017.

Carter’s attorneys, Liane K. Wakayama and Dale Hayes Jr., released a statement, describing the situation as “more of the same nonsense from the group of conspirators and their lawyers,” alleging an abuse of the justice system aimed at destroying Carter’s reputation.

They added, “This follows the same predictable pattern—waiting decades to make claims when Mr. Carter reaches a professional milestone, then using litigation privilege to make totally false accusations intended to inflict maximum damage on him and his family,” according to Us Weekly.