Nick Carter has been accused of raping an autistic teenager in 2001

• crime

American singer Nick Carter is accused of raping an underage girl in 2001, according to a press conference held by the alleged victim and her lawyers on Thursday. Shannon "Shay" Ruth tearfully revealed on Facebook that she was se*ually assaulted by a member of the Backstreet Boys when she was just 17 years old.

“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 now-39-year-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”.

Ruth then further alleged, “After he raped me, I remember him calling me a ‘re—-ed bitch’ and grabbing me and leaving bruises on my arm”. She added that Carter threatened her, which made her hesitant to speak out because she believed she could "go to jail" if she told anyone what allegedly happened.

She added, “Carter tried to scare me into silence … he was nasty and threatening”. However, she claims her motivation now is to "stop" Nick Carter from "attacking more teenagers and women" and "hold Nick Carter accountable." “Just because Nick Carter is a celebrity does not mean that he is excused from his crimes,” the woman concluded.

“I am a survivor and always will be”. Ruth's attorney Mark J. Boskovic also took the stand to support his client and said there are three other women - identified only as Jane Doe - who is named in the lawsuit filed along with Ruth.

“Nick Carter has a long history of abusing women,” the lawyer claimed, adding that the music industry allegedly has a history of “looking away”. “Shay is determined to bring Carter to justice,” Boskovich said.

“She believes it’s worth it to protect other women”.

According to Carter's lawyer, her allegations are "entirely untrue."

“Unfortunately, for several years now, Ms. Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick – and those allegations have changed repeatedly and materially over time.

No one should be fooled by a press stunt orchestrated by an opportunistic lawyer – there is nothing to this claim whatsoever, which we have no doubt the courts will quickly realize”.