Yet another detailed, horrific rape accusation regarding a Hollywood/media celebrity. The accused this time comes from the music industry — specifically the tween-pop, manufactured teen band genre that all but saved the entire sector back when digital downloads and not-yet-outlawed sites such as Napster hit it hard.
This genre has always been ethically troublesome, as it relies upon selling the sexualization of older teens to the less-discriminating musical tastes of younger ones. Yet often the bands are packaged as some sort of wholesome, safe introduction to romance and even self-empowerment.
The performers are thrown to the wolves, and often come out the other side as damaged adults. In this case, one of the performers may himself have been a wolf.
Melissa Schuman of the all-girl group Dream has written a frightening account of being raped by Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys when she was 18 and he was 22.
The most disturbing part of her accusation — her claim to have begged him to stop because she was a virgin, a religious woman saving herself for marriage:
He threw me on the bed and climbed on top of me. Again, I told him that I was a virgin and I didn’t want to have sex. I told him that I was saving myself for my future husband. I said it over and over again. He whispered in my ear as to entice me, “I could be your husband.”
Carter has denied the accusation, claiming it was consensual:
He said he was “shocked and saddened by Ms. Schuman’s accusations.”
“Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual,” Carter said in the statement. “We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally.”
“This is the first that I am hearing about these accusations, nearly two decades later,” he added. “It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause someone discomfort or harm.”
Presumably, the next step of this allegation could involve Schuman’s religious character.
Carter has claimed consensual sex, rather than claiming that nothing happened at all. We will soon see if he is confronted by family and friend accounts of Schuman being known to have a commitment to her faith and her virginity.
Also, Schuman claims she decided to come forward in support of another woman who accused Carter on October 26.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member