Earlier this month, singer Melissa Schuman wrote a blog that accused Backstreet Boy Nick Carter of rape during a house party in 2002. It took her 15 years to tell her story of assault and it’s a classic scenario of a man not understanding the meaning of the word “no.” Nick claimed that this is the first time he is hearing about these allegations and that Melissa never told him that what they did was not consensual.
“I am shocked and saddened by Ms. Schuman’s accusations,” Nick said in a statement sent to the press. “Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual. 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. It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause someone discomfort or harm.”
Both Melissa and Nick were cast in the same TV movie show in 2002 and during an off-shooting day, he invited her to come over his place to hang out with his friend. She agreed and even brought her roommate. After a few drinks, casual conversation, and video games, Nick asked Melissa if she wanted to hear the music he was working on.
Soon after listening to his new music, they started kissing. Nick wanted to take it further and brought her to the adjacent bathroom, they continued to kiss and he unbuttoned her jeans. Melissa told him multiple times that she was not interested in doing anything and emphasized that she was a virgin saving herself for marriage. He never listened and performed oral sex on her. Melissa felt trapped, most especially when Nick asked her to perform oral sex on him to return the favor. “I did it for you, its only right you do it for me.”
But that wasn’t enough, so Nick brought Melissa to the bedroom and climbed on top of her. She told him again that she doesn’t want it to go further because she was a virgin. He did not listen. Melissa recalled that she simply felt limp and looked away, paralyzed by what is happening around her.
You’d ask why and how your ’90s boy band crush could do this, but think of all the other men in the industry who we never imagined to have sexually assaulted anyone, but then they did.
We’re expecting a longer list to come out, especially now that women are braver to share their story, because strength can sometimes come in numbers.
[Reuters and E! News]
Photo courtesy of Paper Magazine
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