What we know about Melissa Shuman’s allegations

Melissa Schuman talks about her decision to record a duet with Nick Carter after he allegedly raped her in 2003.

Schuman, who sued Carter, 44, for sexual assault in Los Angeles Superior Court in April 2023, said in Investigation Discovery’s docuseries “Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter,” which premiered Monday, that she felt pressured by her manager to record “There For Me” with Carter to launch her solo career.

“Looking back at the song now, it almost feels like it was done intentionally. It was presented as if it was actually helping me, but in reality it feels more like an alibi for him,” she said.

“Fallen Idols” delves deeply into the sexual assault allegations against the Backstreet Boys singer and features interviews with accusers Schuman, Ashley Repp and Shay Ruth, as well as his ex-girlfriend Kaya Jones and Melanie Martin, the former fiancée of the late Aaron Carter.

“These are the very same outrageous allegations that led us to sue this band of conspirators. These cases are currently working their way through the legal system, and based on the initial court rulings and the overwhelming evidence, we are confident we will prevail and hold them accountable for spreading these falsehoods,” Dale Hayes Jr., an attorney for Carter, told USA TODAY on Tuesday in a statement about the docuseries.

Need a break? Play USA TODAY’s daily crossword puzzle.

The documentary series also addresses Aaron Carter’s mental health issues and substance abuse.

In the documentary series, the former Dream pop singer spoke about the victim shaming she experienced after working with Carter following the alleged assault, according to her testimony.

“People don’t understand that and they say, ‘Well, you followed him on Twitter. You sent him your condolences. You liked a tweet.’ I really tried my best to forgive him and move on with my life.”

Schuman said her manager, Kenneth Crear, gave her the song and later learned that he was “like family” to Carter.

“My first thought was, ‘Do I have to be alone with him?’ And Kenneth said, ‘Oh no, it’s already taped. You just have to go in and do your part.’ I could feel Kenneth’s eyes on me, like he was watching me. And he said, ‘Nick is dating Paris Hilton,'” she claimed her manager said at the time.

Sony Records later arranged a showcase for her to secure a recording contract, and was “completely stunned” when she found out Carter was coming along.

“I was scared,” she recalled. “And I was very cold to him and we sang our duet. I don’t think I even looked at him and at one point he said, ‘Well, obviously we don’t like each other.’ And those were the last words he ever said to me.”

Nick Carter’s former manager refutes Melissa Schuman’s portrayal of the duet and the showcase

In a signed statement submitted by Crear in April 2023, he refutes Schuman’s account of the creation of the duet and her fears surrounding the showcase.

“I remember Ms. Schuman being happy and excited when she got the chance to sing with Mr. Carter,” he wrote. “I am aware that Ms. Schuman accuses Mr. Carter of sexually harassing her sometime in 2003. I am disappointed and ashamed that she misrepresented and twisted her experiences working with me and during the showcase to legitimize/validate her story of the assault.”

Carter and the Backstreet Boys’ former manager also claimed that the showcase was intended for “many artists” and that Schuman “knew long before the showcase that she would be performing the duet with Mr. Carter. Her statement suggesting otherwise is false.”

Crear said the two singers performed the song “without any problems” and that Schuman “hung out and chatted with others” with him and Carter after the performance.

Nick and Aaron Carter docannounced by the ‘Quiet on Set’ network: Watch the trailer

Why did Melissa Schuman sue Nick Carter?

In a complaint filed in Los Angeles, Schuman alleged that Carter “abused his role, status and power as a well-known singer to gain access, obtain entry, manipulate, exploit and sexually abuse,” according to the complaint, obtained by USA TODAY.

In court documents, Schuman said the alleged assault took place in Carter’s Santa Monica apartment. She claimed Carter forced himself on her despite her “continuing to tell him that she was a virgin, that she was saving herself for her future husband, and that she did not want to have sex.”

Schuman also claimed that Carter infected her with HPV, a sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts and other health problems.

Carter’s lawyer, Liane K. Wakayama, said in an email to USA TODAY at the time that Schuman’s lawsuit was a “PR stunt.”

“Melissa Schuman has been spreading this story for many years, but her accusation was false when she first made it in 2017 – and it still is,” Wakayama said.

The lawsuit came weeks after a Nevada judge ruled that Carter could file a countersuit against Schuman and her father, Jerome Schuman, as well as another Carter accuser, Shannon “Shay” Ruth.

More:Cassie supporters say Diddy is not a “real man.” Experts say that response is not helpful.

Melissa Schuman first spoke about the alleged attack on Nick Carter in 2017

Schuman first published her claims in a blog post in 2017.

“I am going to share with you now something that since I was 18 I have wanted to pretend never happened,” Schuman wrote. “A burden that I thought I would have to carry and endure in silence for the rest of my life.”

Schuman said Carter was “relentless and did not take no for an answer” and said he performed oral sex on her and forced Schuman to perform sexual acts before raping her.

According to Schuman’s post, the incident occurred shortly after they were cast together in a 2004 television movie, “The Hollow.” Carter was 22 at the time.

Schuman wrote that she had planned to get in touch shortly after the encounter, but her manager at the time, Nils Larsen, convinced her that this was not a good idea.

After Schuman’s blog post was published in 2017, Carter also denied the allegations in a statement to USA TODAY at the time.

“I am shocked and saddened by Ms. Schuman’s allegations,” the singer said. “Melissa never mentioned to me during or after our relationship that we did anything non-consensual. We then recorded a song and performed together, and I have always been respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally. This is the first I have heard of these allegations, nearly two decades later. It goes against my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause discomfort or harm to anyone.”

Related Posts

Former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker accused of sexual assault in newly filed civil lawsuit – Action News Jax

Silver Lake resort owner killed in murder-suicide at RV park

Seattle security guard killed teenager outside mall, police say – NBC4 Washington