Nick Carter’s legal troubles: A history of sexual assault allegations since 2001

Nick Carter, a longtime member of the Backstreet Boys, has been facing serious legal troubles since 2022, as multiple women have accused him of sexual assault in incidents said to have taken place between 2001 and 2005. These cases, although different in detail, seem to form a disturbing pattern of similar accusations that span over two decades. Despite Carter’s repeated denials, these allegations have brought intense public scrutiny.
The first formal lawsuit
The first known formal lawsuit against Carter came in December 2022. A woman named Shannon “Shay” Ruth claimed that he sexually assaulted her in 2001, when she was 17 years old. Ruth, who has cerebral palsy and is on the autism spectrum, alleged that Carter invited her onto his tour bus after a concert in Washington and gave her a drink she suspected was mixed with alcohol. According to her statement, he then took her to a bedroom on the bus and assaulted her. She also said that he told her to stay silent afterwards. Ruth claimed she later tested positive for HPV, which she believed she contracted from that incident. Carter denied all the allegations and responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against her.
Two more women opened up
In 2023, two more women came forward. One of them was Melissa Schuman, a former member of the pop group Dream. She alleged that Carter raped her in 2003 when she was 18, after inviting her to his apartment in Santa Monica. Melissa said she had made it clear she was a virgin and wanted to wait until marriage, but he ignored her protests. Though she had first spoken about the incident publicly in 2017 during the #MeToo movement, she only filed a lawsuit years later due to the emotional trauma. Carter again denied her accusations and sued her for defamation.
Around the same time, another woman, Ashley Repp, filed a separate case. She said that Carter raped her in 2003 when she was only 15. Her accusations also involved being invited over and then allegedly assaulted. As with the earlier cases, Carter denied everything and filed a defamation suit. However, in Ashley’s case, a judge dismissed Carter’s defamation claim, saying her statements were legally protected.
The lawsuit of 2025
Most recently, in 2025, a fourth woman, Laura Penley, filed a lawsuit against Carter. She claimed that during a visit to Los Angeles in 2005, Carter forced himself on her after she said she did not want to have sex. Laura said that although they initially had a consensual relationship, he later ignored her refusal, assaulted her, and told her she was only there for sex. She further alleged that during a second meeting, another assault took place. She claimed Carter did not use protection, and that she contracted HPV, which eventually led to cervical cancer. Her lawsuit also mentioned emotional distress and ongoing health issues. Carter’s legal team responded by saying he doesn’t remember ever meeting her and denied having any relationship with her.
So far, Carter has denied all allegations made against him and has maintained his innocence. However, the number of lawsuits and the consistency in the claims have led many to revisit his past and question his actions.