Melissa Schuman reveals horrific details of Nick Carter’s alleged sexual assault in “Fallen Idols”

It’s been seven years since Melissa Schuman made public her accusation that she was sexually assaulted by Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter in a blog post titled “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” but the fact that she shared her story with the world still bothers her.

In ID’s new documentary series Fallen idols: Nick and Aaron Carterwhose first episode premiered Monday night, the former Dream singer shared the heartbreaking details of the night she was allegedly raped by the then-pop superstar.

In the premiere, Schuman revealed that she first spoke out about the incident when she discovered an article on Radar Online about Carter’s alleged sexual abuse of a fan, and found it very similar to her own experience, which haunted her for years.

She not only recited agonizing details of the night in question in Fallen Idolsbut she also personally revisited the places where she and Carter had been before the alleged encounter in his apartment that moved her to tears.

Melissa Schuman in 2001. (Theo Wargo/WireImage)

According to Schuman, she first learned of Carter’s interest in her from her band’s label representatives. She said they thought it would be good publicity for her to be associated with one of the biggest acts in the business at the time, even though she already had a boyfriend. Although their first call was “embarrassing,” they were introduced again when they were cast in the film. The HollowIt was during a night off set of that production that, according to Schuman, Carter raped her in his apartment.

“I remember telling him when he kissed me, ‘I don’t want sex, I’m saving myself for marriage. I don’t want sex,'” she says. “I told him so many times, ‘I’m saving myself for my husband, my future husband.’ And he said, ‘I could be your husband.'”

Schuman said she received a text message from Carter the next day saying, “Why did you let me do this?” She told her story to her friend’s mother, who was at the apartment with her father that same night. Schuman said while others urged her to go to the police, her manager advised her against it because her music and acting careers were at risk.

Instead, she just had to work right next to him again: “I learned to hide my true feelings. Because of course I still had to film with him on set and he acted like nothing had happened,” she explained. “After we finished filming, I changed my number and I remember thinking, ‘Okay, that’s it. I’m going to avoid him for the rest of my life.'”

Unfortunately, her next manager, Kenneth Crear, was friends with Carter and suggested they record a duet together. Schuman said she agreed after learning she wouldn’t have to physically sing with him.

“My first thought was, ‘Do I have to be alone with him?’ And Kenneth said, ‘Oh no, it’s already recorded. 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.’ Why did he feel the need to say that? What did Nick tell him?” Schuman said.

That changed, however, when he arranged for Carter to appear at her record label’s showcase event, where she “froze.”

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

When Schuman saw the Radar report in the early days of the Me Too movement, she decided to write about her experiences. It was her husband who had to click the publish button.

“Nothing could prepare me, my family or my husband for what was about to happen,” she said. More to come in episode two and beyond when the show returns on Tuesday, May 28.

Schuman has sued Carter for sexual assault, and he has sued Schuman and others who accused him of similar crimes for defamation. Additional documents on the case are available on a special docuseries website.

There were several denials during the episode, including Nick Carter’s claim that his sex with Schuman was “consensual” and his friend Tony Bass was there that night, corroborating his version of the story. In addition, both her former manager and Kenneth Crear reportedly disputed her account.

Fallen idols: Nick and Aaron CarterEpisodes 2–4, May 28, 7/6c, ID

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, contact the National Rape, Abuse and Incest NetworkNational Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.