April 16, 2025 | 12:46 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nick Carter, a member of the Backstreet Boys, is facing fresh allegations of sexual assault from a woman. In a new lawsuit, Laura Penly claims she contracted a sexually transmitted infection that eventually led to cervical cancer as a result of Carter’s actions.
According to People, Penly alleges that the assault occurred in 2004, when she was about 19 years old and Carter was 25.
Penly said their encounters happened between December 2004 and February 2005 and involved sexual activity. The two reportedly met every few weeks when Penly traveled to Los Angeles.
She claimed their intimate relationship was initially consensual on about three occasions before Carter began acting aggressively.
Penly also stated that she asked him to use protection, but he refused and failed to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to cervical cancer.
According to the lawsuit, Penly alleged that before interacting with Carter, she had never had unprotected sex with anyone. She also revealed that in early 2005, she went to his apartment again, hoping to watch a movie with the singer.
In addition, Penly stated that the sexual assault was carried out forcibly in her bed, even though Penly had said 'no' several times. Based on her lawsuit, she was asked to keep the assault a secret because no one would believe her.
However, a few months later, Carter allegedly apologized and then went to see her again. At that time, Penly was sexually assaulted for the second time. It is also known that Penly is seeking damages exceeding US$15,000 and demanding a jury trial.
Carter has denied the accusations through a statement issued by his attorney.
Carter's Denial
Liane K. Wakayama and Dale Hayes, Jr., Carter's attorneys, provided their response to Variety.
In a statement to Variety, Carter's attorneys, Liane K. Wakayama and Dale Hayes, Jr., described the lawsuit as “nothing more than the same baseless claims from a group of conspirators and their legal team who persist in misusing the legal system in an effort to destroy Nick Carter’s reputation.”
“It’s drawn from the same predictable playbook – lie in wait for decades until Mr. Carter is celebrating a professional milestone, then hide behind litigation privilege to make utterly false claims in an attempt to inflict maximum damage on Nick and his family," they said.
“Nick does not recall ever even meeting Laura Penly. He certainly never had any romantic or sexual relationship with her. Ever."
The accuser is said to have a troubled financial and legal background, including having filed for bankruptcy and facing lawsuits for alleged fraud. It is also emphasized that any health issues experienced by that person have no connection whatsoever with Nick Carter.
"Not only will we fight this, we will be seeking sanctions against her legal team for enabling this frivolous action," they continued.
This is not the first time Nick Carter has been accused of sexual assault in a series of lawsuits filed against Carter. Penly's lawsuit is the fourth.
Previously, in December 2022, Shannon Ruth filed a lawsuit against Carter in Clark County, Nevada, alleging that Carter forced her to perform oral sex after a Backstreet Boys concert in 2001.
Carter also faced allegations from former Dream singer Melissa Schuman. In her lawsuit filed two years ago in California, Schuman accused Carter of drugging and raping her in his Santa Monica apartment in 2003, when she was 17 years old.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced or witnessed sexual assault, harassment, and/or gender-based violence, please contact the nearest authorities and organizations. If you’re in Indonesia, you can call Pulih Foundation at (021) 78842580, Komnas Perempuan at (021) 80605399, or the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection’s SAPA Service 129 at 08111 129 129. For immediate dangers, call the police at Call Center 110.
Sofwa Najla Tsabita Sunanto
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