The Backstreet Boys‘ holiday special “A Very Backstreet Holiday” will no longer air on ABC.
According to Variety, the December 14th special was canceled when member Nick Carter was accused of raping a 17-year-old female while on tour in 2001.
On Thursday, Shannon “Shay” Ruth, 39, filed a sexual battery lawsuit against Carter, claiming she had been sexually assaulted as a teenager and infected with HP.
“The last 21 years have been filled with pain, confusion, frustration, shame, and self-harm that are a direct result of Nick Carter raping me,” Ruth said during a press conference.
The sexual assault allegedly occurred while the Backstreet Boys were performing in Tacoma, Washington, in Feb. 2001, according to Ruth, who has autism and cerebral palsy.
She claims that after being chosen by Carter from a crowd of fans, the singer invited her back to the band’s tour bus.
When Ruth spoke during the press conference, she said she believed she would “go to jail” if she told anyone of the alleged sexual assault.
“Carter tried to scare me into silence … he was nasty and threatening,” Ruth said.
Carter’s attorney Michael Holtz has come out publicly denying all accusations on behalf of the singer.
“This claim about an incident that supposedly took place more than 20 years ago is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue,” Holtz said.
He stated that for several years Ruth “has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick.”
The allegations have changed “repeatedly and materially over time” and are “a press stunt orchestrated by an opportunistic lawyer.”
