The Backstreet Boys Christmas special “A Very Backstreet Holiday” will not be showing on ABC following the recent allegations and lawsuit brought against Nick Carter.
The pre-taped holiday special was set to air on Dec. 14 with all five members, Carter, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough performing songs from their new album “A Very Backstreet Christmas.” There were also appearances from Seth Rogen, Meghan Trainor, Rob Riggle, Nikki Glaser, Ron Funches and Atsuko.
The sexual assault lawsuit was filed on Thursday by 39-year-old Shannon "Shay" Ruth in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is where Carter lives.
During a press conference at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles Ruth, who suffers from autism and cerebral palsy, spoke about her experience.
"The past 21 years have been filled with pain, confusion, frustration, shame and self-harm that are a direct result of Nick Carter raping me," said Ruth. “Carter tried to scare me into silence ... it was nasty and threatening.”
According to the lawsuit, in 2001 Carter invited the then 17-year-old to the group tour bus after a show in Tacoma, Washington. She was then given alcohol and forced to perform oral sex on Carter in the tour bus bathroom. Then the accuser said Carter raped her again on a bed in the back of the tour bus.
Carter has denied the allegations via his attorney Michael Holtz.
“This claim about an incident that supposedly took place more than 20 years ago is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue,” said Holtz in a statement to Variety. “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.”
In place of the Christmas special, reruns of “The Conners” and “The Goldbergs” will show
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