Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, 42, is trending on Twitter due to sexual assault allegations. Despite the grim accusations from at least five women, the hashtag #IStandWithNickCarter was trending on Friday.
I really tried so hard to not even say anything but this needs to be said Nick is innocent I’m so sick and tired of people accusing him of unspeakable things that man has saved my life women are money hungry and will do anything for attention #istandwithnickcarter pic.twitter.com/6uRzq45s3g
— ???????????????????????? ???????? (@harlowsuniverse) December 9, 2022
The hashtag seems to be fueled by fans five years after ’90s pop star Melissa Schuman first accused Carter. Schuman said in 2017 that Carter drugged and assaulted her when she was a teenager. Schuman was a member of the girl band Dream, best known for their hit “He Loves U Not.”
Schuman detailed her accusations against Carter in a 2017 blog post. She has since deleted the post.
The Santa Monica, Calif. police department opened an investigation into Carter in 2018 after Schuman filed a police report.
Melissa Schuman (writer, former actress and singer) pic.twitter.com/jizceBBiPm
— Emma Bunton + Alexandra Stan | Stream Rainbows ???? (@emmabuntonworld) June 27, 2022
After Schuman accused Carter of assault, Carter’s Dancing with the Stars partner, Sharna Burgess, defended him online. Burgess called Carter “respectful,” “sweet,” and “understanding.”
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Part 1. These are only my thoughts, this is not victim shaming, y’all know me and I would never. Just because I support Nick, doesn’t mean I don’t support female empowerment or #metoo. They are both movements that I am a part of, here for and proud of. pic.twitter.com/J8Gz7dczhv
— Sharna Burgess (@SharnaBurgess) December 3, 2017
Now, ABC has pulled a Backstreet Boys holiday special from the air amid new allegations. This week, Shannon Ruth and three Jane Does filed a lawsuit against Carter in Nevada. Ruth says that Carter drugged and raped her on his tour bus after a 2001 concert in Washington. Ruth was 17 at the time.
"The allegations are not the first against Carter. Back in 2017, Melissa Schuman, a former member of teen-pop group Dream, publicly accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2003 when she was 18 years old." https://t.co/CHEHZZ3uEv
— ella dawson (@brosandprose) December 9, 2022
Ruth, who has cerebral palsy, also said that Carter called her an ableist slur as she resisted his actions.
Carter fans on Twitter have accused Ruth, Schuman, and the Jane Does of lying.
#IStandWithNickCarter
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, they say…. You are, you have been, and you will be the strongest person I know. We are all with you and we always will be, you will defeat another demon on your way @nickcarter ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ pic.twitter.com/4w9IWDrXCy— Justyna♥️BSBlove♥️ (@justicat2310) December 9, 2022
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Carter made headlines last month following the untimely death of his younger brother, child pop star Aaron Carter. Aaron Carter died on November 5 at the age of 34; police have not yet released his cause of death.
Happy heavenly birthday, Aaron Carter ????️ pic.twitter.com/Hg1UMhrkqk
— FUSE TV (@fusetv) December 7, 2022
Aaron Carter once accused his brother Nick of sexually assaulting a woman named Ashley Repp. Repp tweeted in 2020 that Nick Carter had abused her, Schuman, Paris Hilton, and others. Hilton follows Repp on Twitter.
My god you really act like a child. You don’t even know me ????????♀️
— Ashley Repp (@AshleyRepp) August 28, 2020
In 2019, Nick Carter filed a restraining order against Aaron after Aaron allegedly threatened to kill his brother’s wife. Aaron Carter implied that the move was done in retaliation after he publicly supported his brother’s accusers.
Hey love, @MelissaSchuman I’m not sorry that I spoke to you. Clearly my brother is sorry I spoke to you and is retaliating against me. #CoverUp #IGotYourBack #Metoomovement
— AARON CARTER (@aaroncarter) September 18, 2019
In 2021, Aaron Carter said that his brother was trying to place him under a conservatorship.
