Photo courtesy of New York Daily News.
Summary: Former Dream singer Melissa Schuman wrote that Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter raped her when she was a teenager.
Nick Carter may be “Larger Than Life,” but he also may be a criminal. According to former Dream singer Melissa Schuman, the Backstreet Boys member raped her almost 15 years ago, and Carter responded today that he was “shocked and saddened” by her alarming accusation.
On Saturday, Schuman published a post on her blog, Melissa Explains It All, that stated Carter had taken her virginity by force when she was 18. She said that years ago she and Carter were at his apartment listening to music when he started to kiss her forcefully. She said that it was well-known at the time that she was a conservative Christian and a virgin when Carter, then 22, had raped her.
“After kissing for a moment, he took my hand and brought me into the bathroom adjacent to his office. He shut the door and we continued to kiss. I asked him what we were doing in there. He didn’t respond and continued to kiss me. He then picked me up, put me on the bathroom counter and started to unbutton my pants. I told him I didn’t want to go any further,” Schuman said. “He didn’t listen. He didn’t care…It was done. The one thing I had held as a virtue had been ruined…I went limp, turned my head to my left and decided I would just go to sleep now. I wanted to believe it was some sort of nightmare I was dreaming up.”
Schuman said that she had told her management about what had happened, but she was warned that Carter was powerful and the accusation could destroy her career. In her blog, she said she was coming forward now because there was strength in numbers.
“[I’m coming] forward with the hope and intention to inspire and encourage other victims to tell their story,” Schuman said. “We are stronger in numbers. If you are reading this and you have been assaulted, know you don’t have to be silent and you are not alone. I know it’s scary. I’m scared.”
On Wednesday, Carter denied Schuman’s story and said that their sexual encounter was consensual.
“Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual,” Carter said in the statement. “We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally. This is the first that I am hearing about these accusations, nearly two decades later. It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause someone discomfort or harm.”
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