ABC is no longer airing a planned Backstreet Boys holiday special following a recent rape lawsuit filed by one of the band’s members.
A Very Backstreet Holiday was originally slated to open on December 14th, but now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, more comedies have taken its place. The special featured the popular boy band to sing songs from their recently released holiday album.
The decision reportedly comes after Nick Carter was indicted on Thursday for allegedly raping a 17-year-old fan on a tour bus in 2001. The incident allegedly happened after a concert in Tacoma, Wash.
A civil lawsuit filed by 39-year-old Shannon “Shay” Ruth in Nevada alleges that the singer picked her out of a group of autograph seekers to join her on a tour bus. Ruth said she was given an alcoholic drink called “VIP juice” before the attack.
NICK CARTER accused of raping autistic fan in NEW lawsuit
Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson and Howie Doro of the Backstreet Boys perform onstage at iHeartRadio Channel 95.5’s Jingle Ball 2022 presented by Capital One on December 6, 2022 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
(Scott Legato/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
The lawsuit includes the alleged incidents of three other anonymous Jane Does who accused Carter of similar assaults in 2003 and 2006.
One of the three, whose name has not been released, is said to be a minor at the time.
in a statement shared with Sixth pageCarter’s attorney, Michael Holtz, called the allegations “not only legally unfounded, but completely false.”
NICK CARTER DENIES ALLEGATIONS HE SEXUALLY RAISED SINGER
Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter performs onstage at Jingle Ball 2022 on iHeartRadio Channel 95.5. Presented by Capital One on December 6, 2022 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
(Scott Legato/Getty Images for iHeartRadio))
Carter was charged with sexual assault in 2017 after former Dream member Melissa Shuman said he assaulted her in 2003 when she was 18.
At the time, Carter denied the allegations and said everything he and Shuman did was consensual.
Prosecutors investigated the claims and decided not to prosecute Carter, saying the statute of limitations had expired.
Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys performs at the Venetian Resort on August 19, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Denis Truscello/WireImage)
ABC has not yet responded to his request for a statement.