Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter was sued by
Shannon Ruth, a 39-year-old American woman for allegedly raping her in 2001.

Shannon ‘Shay’ Ruth filed a civil lawsuit on
Thursday, December 8 charging Nick Carter with sexual battery, and
intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
The allegations were made in a virtual press conference held by attorney Mark
Boskovich, who said that Ruth has waived the right to anonymity, which is
customary for victims of sexual crimes.

Ruth, who kept weeping throughout the 30-minute
press conference, claimed that she was a minor at the time of the incident.
Ruth suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder and also battles Cerebral Palsy.

Also Read | Nick Carter accused of raping 17-year-old autistic fan during 2001 Backstreet Boys tour

According to the report, the incident happened
during Backstreet Boys’ Black & Blue Worldwide Concert Tour. Ruth stated
that after a concert in Washington, Nick Carter had picked her out of a group
of fans and invited her to his tour bus.  

Describing the incident in the lawsuit, she stated
that Carter gave her a red-colored ‘funny tasting’ beverage that he called a ‘VIP
Juice’. He allegedly took her to the bus bathroom and exposed his genitals to
her, forcing Ruth to perform oral sex on him. According to Boskovich, Carter
took Ruth to his bed and raped her, despite her pleas.

“Even though I’m
autistic and live with cerebral palsy, I believe that nothing has affected me
more or had a more lasting impact on my life than what Nick Carter did and said
to me,” Ruth said.
The civil lawsuit, filed in Las Vegas, demands unspecified damages from Carter.
The lawsuit also stated that Carter had previously abused three other women,
although their names were not revealed.

Also Read | Who is Melissa Schuman? Ex-teen popstar accused Nick Carter of sexual assault

What do the charges mean?

Sexual battery is defined as unwanted contact with an intimate part of the body of an individual. The
contact qualifies to be an offense if done with the intention of creating sexual
abuse, or sexual gratification.

Intentional infliction of emotional distress falls
under tort law, and defines any behavior, under specific conditions, which can
result in psychological and emotional damage to people, even if there remains
no threat of physical harm.

Negligent infliction of emotional distress provides a victim the right to recover damages if they have suffered mental harm by someone else’s negligent conduct, even if there was no intention of causing harm.