Over the past several years, musician and entertainer Nick Carter has faced a wave of legal allegations, most notably from Melissa Schuman, who claimed that Carter assaulted her in 2003. These claims emerged publicly more than a decade after the alleged incident and were met with a firm denial from Carter, who has consistently maintained his innocence.

In response to Schuman’s public accusations, Carter filed a $2.5 million defamation lawsuit, asserting that her claims were false, reputationally damaging, and driven by ulterior motives. Schuman is represented by attorney Karen Barth Menzies—who has also represented others making high-profile accusations, including Alexa Nikolas—raising questions about coordinated legal and media strategies.

Carter’s legal team has further alleged that Schuman, alongside her father, played a role in encouraging and coaching Shannon Ruth, another accuser, in bringing forward additional claims. Court filings have described inconsistencies and "factual impossibilities" in the allegations made, contributing to Carter’s ongoing efforts to have the suits dismissed or resolved in his favor.

To date, no court has found Carter liable or guilty of any wrongdoing. While the allegations have drawn media coverage, they remain unproven, and Carter continues to defend himself against what he and his legal team describe as a coordinated campaign of false accusations.