Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter faces fourth sexual assault lawsuit, STD allegations surface

Nick Carter, a member of the Backstreet Boys, is facing a fourth sexual assault lawsuit filed by Laura Penly in Nevada. Penly alleges that she met Carter in 2004 at age 19 and engaged in a consensual sexual relationship where he refused to use protection, claiming he was STD-free. In 2005, she claims Carter sexually assaulted her twice, despite her objections, and that he infected her with multiple STDs, including HPV, which led to a cervical cancer diagnosis. Penly asserts she suffered severe emotional and physical trauma and is seeking damages and a jury trial. ​

Carter has denied all allegations, asserting he never met Penly and accusing her of fabricating claims for financial gain. His legal team maintains these allegations are part of a broader conspiracy to damage his reputation. ​

This lawsuit follows previous accusations from Melissa Schuman, Shannon Ruth, and a third unnamed woman, all of which Carter also denies. He has countersued Schuman and Ruth for defamation. ​

Penly’s attorneys describe the suit as a step toward accountability in the entertainment industry’s history of sexual exploitation. ​

Legal proceedings for the earlier cases are scheduled for 2026. ​

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty