PREVIEW

Nick Carter has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman who accused him of sexual assault. In April 2023, former Dream singer Melissa Schuman filed a lawsuit in which she claimed the Backstreet Boys star forced oral sex on her and then made her reciprocate before allegedly taking her virginity in 2003. Schuman originally went public with the allegations in a blog post in 2017. Carter denied the allegations at the time, and in a countersuit filed at the Superior Court of California in July, the 44-year-old claims Schuman and her father recruited and groomed third parties to defame him. In the countersuit, obtained by Variety, Carter also alleges Schuman "publicly acknowledges her dwindling career and thirst for internet relevance,” and refers to a 2014 YouTube video she posted that was titled "I need to Become Important On the Internet" as evidence. Carter, who is seeking $2.5 million (£1.9 million) in damages, claimed Schuman's allegations have cost him significant business and endorsement deals. Representatives for Carter and Schuman have not yet commented on the latest lawsuit. The countersuit comes amid a legal battle Carter is facing against another accuser, Shannon Ruth. Ruth sued Carter in 2022, alleging he sexually assaulted her in 2001. The case is ongoing.
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