Nick Carter, 45, is facing serious new allegations. A woman named Laura Penly has filed a lawsuit accusing the Backstreet Boys singer of sexual assault claiming he gave her HPV, which later developed into cervical cancer.
Ms. Penly says the two met when she was around 19, and they began a casual relationship that included a few consensual encounters. But according to her, things changed dramatically during a visit to Carter’s apartment in Hollywood. What started as an evening to hang out and watch movies allegedly turned into something far more disturbing.
She claims Carter refused to wear protection, despite her asking him to, and led her to believe he was free of any STDs. Then, she says, he forced himself on her, ignoring her repeated attempts to say no.
“He told me no one would believe me anyway,” Penly alleges in the court documents.
A few months later, Laura Penly says Nick Carter reached out to apologize, and she agreed to see him again. That meeting, she claims, ended in a second assault.
Not long after, Penly says she began experiencing health issues. A doctor’s visit revealed infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV. Then came the news that changed everything: cervical cancer. Stage 2.
In the lawsuit, she describes undergoing intense medical treatments and struggling with emotional trauma, physical pain, and deep trust issues that have followed her ever since.
“This isn’t just about one incident, it’s about the ripple effects that took over her life,” said Gianna N. Elliot, Penly’s attorney at Marsh Law Firm. “Nick Carter used his fame and status to silence women for years. That stops now.”
Carter’s legal team strongly denies the claims, calling them part of an ongoing campaign to destroy his reputation. “Nick doesn’t even recall ever meeting Laura Penly, let alone having a relationship with her,” said attorneys Liane Wakayama and Dale Hayes, Jr. in a joint statement. “These claims are completely false, and we’re prepared to fight them.”
Laura Penly is seeking damages and has requested a jury trial.
She’s not the only one speaking out. Over the years, three other women Melissa Schuman, Ashley Repp, and Shannon Ruth, have come forward with their own allegations of sexual misconduct involving Carter.
All three women shared their experiences in the 2024 docuseries Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, which delves into the allegations against Nick Carter and the broader implications within the entertainment industry.
Melissa Schuman
Melissa Schuman, a former member of the early 2000s pop group Dream, alleged in 2017 that Nick Carter raped her in 2003 when she was 18 and he was 22. She claimed the assault occurred at his Santa Monica apartment after they filmed the movie The Hollow together.
Schuman stated that Carter provided her with alcohol and a sedative before the alleged assault. Although the Los Angeles District Attorney declined to press charges in 2018 due to the statute of limitations, Schuman filed a civil lawsuit against Carter in April 2023. In response, Carter countersued her for $2.5 million, alleging defamation and interference with his business contracts.
Ashley Repp
Ashley Repp, who filed her lawsuit under the name "Ashley," accused Carter of sexually assaulting her in 2003 when she was 15 years old. She claimed that Carter misled her into believing he was unaware of her age. Carter filed a countersuit for defamation, but in August 2024, a Nevada judge ruled against him, stating that "the truth is an absolute defense," acknowledging that Carter admitted to having sexual relations with Repp when she was a minor.
Shannon Ruth
Shannon Ruth filed a lawsuit in December 2022, alleging that Carter raped her in 2001 when she was 17 years old. She claimed the assault occurred on a tour bus after a Backstreet Boys concert in Tacoma, Washington. Ruth, who has autism and cerebral palsy, stated that Carter provided her with alcohol before the alleged assault. Carter denied the allegations and filed a countersuit, accusing Ruth and Schuman of conspiring to defame him. In November 2024, the Nevada Supreme Court denied Ruth's motion to dismiss Carter's counterclaim, allowing the defamation case to proceed.
He has denied all of them and even filed defamation suits against Schuman and Ruth. A judge recently blocked his attempt to sue Repp.
Melissa Schuman’s case is expected to go to trial in California later this year, while Repp and Ruth’s cases are scheduled for 2026 in Nevada.
As this new lawsuit moves forward, it marks yet another chapter in the growing number of sexual assault allegations surrounding Nick Carter. But for Laura Penly, this case is far more personal, it’s about reclaiming her voice after years of emotional, physical, and psychological trauma.
While the music industry has long been criticized for shielding powerful figures from accountability, a cultural shift is underway. In recent years, survivors have begun coming forward in greater numbers, challenging a system that too often prioritized celebrity over truth.
Laura Penly’s story reflects not only the alleged harm she endured, but the ripple effects that followed years of medical treatments, emotional distress. She has also reported harassment from fans after testifying, underscoring the personal toll that can come with speaking out against a public figure.
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