Nick Carter and Melissa Schuman.
In the suit, Schuman accuses Carter of using “his role, status, and power as a well-known singer to gain access to, groom, manipulate, exploit, and sexually assault” her. The complaint also states Schuman has “suffered severe emotional, physical and psychological stress” as a result of the alleged sexual assault.
Schuman previously came forward in 2017 and said that Carter allegedly raped her while the two were working on a movie project together in the early 2000s.
She wrote ablog post on her websiteat the time titled ‘Don’t Worry, I Won’t Tell Anybody’ that stated that after she was invited to Carter’s Californian home, the two began kissing in the bathroom before he performed oral sex on her despite her objections. Schuman then alleged that despite telling Carter she was a virgin and was saving herself for marriage, he allegedly led her to his bedroom, forced himself upon her and raped her, taking her virginity.
Melissa Schuman.Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Tuesday, Carter’s attorney Liane K. Wakayama said, “Melissa Schuman has been peddling this tale for many years, but her allegation was false when she first made it back in 2017 — and it still is. A judge in Nevada recently ruled, after reviewing the extensive evidence we laid out, that there are strong grounds for Nick Carter to proceed with his lawsuit against Ms. Schuman for plotting to damage, defame and extort Nick, his associates, his friends and his family.”
Wakayama continued, “In light of our progress in Nevada, this kind of response is at once both predictable and pathetic. But this PR stunt won’t shake Nick from his determination to hold Ms. Schuman and her co-conspirators to account for the immeasurable pain and suffering their extortionate conduct has caused.”
In the suit — which also states Schuman is suing Carter for “Intentional infliction of emotional distress” — the Dream singer says that after the alleged assault, Carter began to “manipulate and torment” her, texting her, “Why did you make me do that.”
Carter (second from right) with the Backstreet Boys.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
In February 2018, Schuman wrote on Twitter that she hadfiled a police reportagainst Carter. In September that same year however, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office confirmed Carterwould not be prosecutedand declined to investigate her allegations due to the 10-year limitations period expiring.
Nick Carter.Ray Tamarra/GC Images
In Schuman’s current suit, she cited a new bill in California in regards to adult sexual abuse that allows the lifting of the statute of limitations for civil actions.
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Last month, Carterfiled a countersuitagainstShannon Ruth, whosued himin December 2022, for alleged sexual battery. Ruth claims he raped her on a tour bus in 2001 when she was 17. In his countersuit, he is also suing Schuman.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
