American singer Nick Carter is once again in the spotlight, not for his music, but due to mounting legal battles and a sudden tour cancellation. The Backstreet Boys star has now been accused by a fourth woman, Lauren Penly, who alleges that Carter raped her twice in 2005 and infected her with multiple sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV, which she claims led to a diagnosis of Stage 2 cervical cancer.
Penly filed her lawsuit earlier this month in Nevada’s Clark County, accusing the 45-year-old pop star of sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She is seeking at least $15,000 in damages for past and future medical treatment, pain and suffering, and legal fees.
According to the court documents, Penly and Carter allegedly had a brief “sexually intimate” relationship from December 2004 to February 2005, when she was 19 years old. She claimed the relationship included three instances of consensual sex, during which Carter refused to use protection, allegedly assuring her he was “clean” of any STDs. The complaint alleges that Carter violated this trust by sexually assaulting her twice, despite her repeated refusals.
The first incident reportedly occurred in early 2005 at Carter’s Los Angeles apartment. Penly claimed that she asked to simply hang out and watch a movie, but Carter allegedly insisted on sex and assaulted her forcefully after throwing her onto his bed. The second incident took place two months later, when she visited him again after he apologized. Upon her arrival, Carter led her to his bedroom and, despite her objections, allegedly raped her a second time.
Penly later tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV. Her lawsuit states that in August 2005, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which required invasive treatment. She maintains that Carter’s actions directly contributed to her long-term health issues and emotional trauma.
The lawsuit also details the emotional toll Penly has experienced since stepping forward. She claims to have endured online harassment from Backstreet Boys fans after participating in a deposition related to other survivors’ cases against Carter.
In a statement to media outlets, Carter’s legal team vehemently denied the allegations. “Nick does not recall ever even meeting Laura Penly. He certainly never had any romantic or sexual relationship with her,” his representatives stated. They further alleged that Penly had a history of legal and financial issues and insisted that her health problems had nothing to do with Carter.
They described the latest lawsuit as “more of the same nonsense from the gang of conspirators and their lawyers,” accusing them of taking advantage of Carter’s career milestones to launch damaging claims. Carter’s attorneys also stated their intention to seek sanctions against Penly’s legal team for filing what they called a “frivolous” case.
This is the fourth sexual assault lawsuit Carter is facing. Previous claims include those by singer Melissa Schuman, who alleged that Carter raped her in 2003 when she was 18, and Shannon “Shay” Ruth, who accused him of raping her in 2001 when she was 17. Ruth publicly shared her account in a 2022 press conference, claiming that the trauma led to years of mental health struggles. Carter has denied all the allegations and, in turn, filed defamation lawsuits, one of which was dismissed in August 2024.
These cases were prominently featured in the 2024 docuseries Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, which delves into the troubling accusations that have surrounded the singer over the years. In the wake of this latest lawsuit, Carter is also promoting a new documentary, The Carters: Hurts to Love You, which premiered on Paramount+ earlier this week.
Amid these controversies, Carter has also cancelled his “Who I Am” Asia tour, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” Shows in India, Sri Lanka, Korea, the Philippines, and several Middle Eastern locations have been suspended. In a video shared on social media, Carter expressed regret and thanked fans for their understanding, promising that refunds would be processed swiftly.
As legal proceedings continue, Carter’s reputation remains under intense scrutiny. With each new accusation, the once-squeaky-clean image of the Backstreet Boys’ youngest member becomes increasingly mired in controversy, raising difficult questions about power, accountability, and the treatment of survivors within the music industry.
