Nick Carter Countersues Melissa Schuman for $2.5 Million Over Assault Allegations

Nick Carter, a member of the Backstreet Boys, has filed a countersuit seeking $2.5 million in damages against Melissa Schuman, who has accused him of sexual assault. The countersuit, filed on July 26 in California’s Superior Court, responds to Schuman’s lawsuit from April 2023. This countersuit is part of a broader legal battle involving Schuman and another accuser, Shannon Ruth, who sued Carter in 2022.

Schuman, formerly of the girl group Dream, alleges that Carter assaulted her in 2003 during the filming of the movie The Hollow in Los Angeles. She claims that Carter invited her to his apartment, drugged her drink, and sexually assaulted her despite her resistance. Schuman reported the incident to friends, family, and a therapist shortly afterward.

In his countersuit, Carter denies these allegations and provides a different account. He describes a night where he and Schuman had a consensual sexual encounter while their friends, Tony Bass and Rachel Green, were nearby. Carter’s countersuit asserts that Schuman fabricated her story to boost her career and alleges that her accusations have led to significant financial losses, including lost endorsement deals.

Schuman initially made her allegations public in a 2017 blog post and filed a police report that year, but no criminal charges were pursued. Carter’s countersuit claims that Schuman’s actions have defamed him and caused substantial harm to his career.

This countersuit is part of an ongoing series of legal issues for Carter. In December 2022, Shannon Ruth filed a lawsuit claiming Carter sexually assaulted her after a Backstreet Boys concert in 2001. Carter’s countersuit from February 2023 includes Ruth, Schuman, and Schuman’s father as defendants.

Carter is seeking $2.5 million in damages, with the final amount to be determined in court.