Nick Carter is not alone in his current legal battle.
After the sexual assault allegations against Carter led ABC to cancel Backstreet Boys' Christmas special, AJ McLean came forward to reveal that they are all in the battle to support their bandmate.
At Los Angeles Airport on Thursday, a news outlet did a quick interview with McLean and asked whether the whole "Nick thing" made the band face unfair setbacks.
"Listen man, it's an ongoing legal thing, and we all stand behind Nick. We all fully support him and we love him," he said, adding, "Doing that was the greatest and the band as a whole, the chemistry of the band that hasn't changed. Couldn't be more solid."
He was the first Backstreet Boys member to break his silence after the band's "A Very Backstreet Holiday" got canceled. The ABC Christmas special was scheduled to premiere on Dec. 14, but fans noticed it no longer appears in the network's holiday specials guide.
Carter's fans have also since defended the singer and trended the hashtags #NickCarterIsInnocent and #IStandWithNick since the revelation emerged.
The sexual assault allegation against Mr. Nick Carter by Shannon Ruth 39 back in 2001 is false and meritless. The allegation and the timing of it is in question, especially with the recent passing of Mr. Aaron Carter, Nick's brother. Smdh!!! #NickCarterIsInnocent #IStandWithNick pic.twitter.com/SO014rbEPt
— Towanna Campbell (@TowannaCampbell) December 10, 2022
What Nick Carter's Alleged Victim Claims
The buzz started after Carter's alleged victim, Shannon "Shay" Ruth, held a press conference and aired it live on Facebook. She claimed that the Backstreet Boys member sexually assaulted her in 2001.
Ruth, now 39, said she was just 17 when Carter did something to her despite her autism diagnosis.
"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," she said. "Even though I'm autistic and live with cerebral palsy, I believe that nothing has affected me more or had a more lasting impact on my life than what Nick Carter did and said to me.
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The incident reportedly happened when she attended the band's concert in Tacoma. At that time, she was reportedly invited to the musician's tour bus, where she received a red-colored drink.
She divulged that she now thinks it was a combination of cranberry juice and alcohol. After consuming it, Carter reportedly forced her to perform a lascivious act on him before taking her to a bed inside the bus where the assault occurred.
Ruth alleged that Carter called her a "re***ed b***h" after assaulting her. She also accused him of grabbing her tightly and leaving bruises on her arm. When asked why it took her a long time before breaking her silence, she explained that Carter scared and threatened her.
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