Backstreet Boys Christmas Special Cancelled Following Allegations Against Nick Carter

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains discussions about sexual assault. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, or domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. 

US channel ABC has pulled A Very Backstreet Holiday, the Backstreet Boys Christmas special due to air on television next week. 

The special has been halted following allegations of sexual assault against member Nick Carter. A Very Backstreet Holiday would have featured songs from their A Very Backstreet Christmas album performed by Carter, Kevin Richardson, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell.

Earlier this week, TMZ revealed that Shannon “Shay” Ruth filed a sexual battery lawsuit against Carter for allegedly raping her in February 2001, when she was 17, and he was 21. 

Ruth, a woman with autism and cerebral palsy, claimed that Carter gave her "a funny-tasting beverage that he called VIP juice," which was a mixture of alcohol and cranberry juice. When Ruth said she would tell someone about the incident, the singer allegedly called her a "r******* little bitch" that nobody would believe, the lawsuit states.

"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," Ruth said in a press conference with her lawyers, which was live-streamed to Facebook.

Ruth's lawyers are seeking compensatory and punitive monetary damages. 

Carter denies the allegations. "This claim about an incident that supposedly took place more than 20 years ago is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue," Carter's attorney Michael Holtz told Variety in a statement. "Unfortunately, for several years now, Ms. Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick – and those allegations have changed repeatedly and materially over time. No one should be fooled by a press stunt orchestrated by an opportunistic lawyer – there is nothing to this claim whatsoever, which we have no doubt the courts will quickly realize."

This isn't the first time the singer has faced sexual misconduct allegations.

In 2017, Melissa Shuman of the band Dream accused Carter of sexually assaulting her when she was 18, and he was 22. He wasn't criminally charged.

The Backstreet Boys will tour Australia in February and March 2023.