Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter was accused Thursday, December 8, of raping an underage autistic girl on a bus back in 2001, during the boy band’s Black & Blue worldwide concert tour.

The alleged victim is Shannon “Shay” Ruth, who emotionally broke down in a Facebook Livestream and revealed tearfully that when she was just 17 years old, Carter had sexually assaulted her.

Also Read | Who is Shannon ‘Shay’ Ruth, autistic fan accusing Nick Carter of raping her at 17?

“The last 21 years have been filled with pain, confusion, frustration, shame, and self-harm that are a direct result of Nick Carter raping me,” The victim, who is now 39 years old, alleged. “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.”

Nick is married to Lauren Kitt Carter, with whom he has three kids. 

Who is Lauren Kitt?

Lauren is an actress who starred alongside her husband in the SyFy film Dead 7 in 2016 which Nick also wrote. In 2013, she started her YouTube channel called Kitt Fit. Although she stopped posting any new fitness videos, her fitness tips and workouts are still available to stream.  

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

She has also starred in her husband’s music videos. She and her son Odin appeared in the music video for ‘God, Your Mama, and Me,’ sung by the Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line.  

Nick met his wife through his sister Angel Carter and late brother Aaron Carter who were friends with Lauren. They demanded the two to meet and there was immediate chemistry between the pair. 

“Three hours into conversing on my balcony overlooking the beach, we saw shooting star after shooting star,” Nick recalled to Inside Weddings. “We both looked at each other and it got quiet.”  

Also Read | Aaron Carter died without a will, son Prince to inherit estate: Reports

Five years after they started dating, Nick and Lauren tied the knot on April 12, 2014, in Santa Barbara, California, and soon began a family of their own.

Nick told People magazine about Lauren in 2018: “Ever since I met my wife, going on 10 years now. And it’s interesting, because for me to have a strong woman like her, who I love and trust … I knew she would be a foundation and a rock for me whenever times got tough. I knew that I would be protected with her. And we protect one another.”

They welcomed their first child Odin Reign in April 2016 and then their daughter Saoirse Reign, in October 2019. On April 21, 2021, they welcomed their third child, Pearl.