ABC Backs Out Of 'Backstreet Boys' Christmas Special Amid Rape Scandal

The festive period is looking rather bleak for Nick Carter and his Backstreet Boys group members.

The music group's Christmas special, "A Very Backstreet Holiday," has been axed after allegations that Carter raped a teenage autistic girl during the band's tour in 2001 surfaced. The Los Angeles-filmed show was slated to air next week as part of ABC's Wednesday, December 14 schedule.

The special was set to feature Carter, alongside his band members – AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough – celebrating the Christmas season while performing some of the biggest songs from their tenth album, "A Very Backstreet Christmas." 

Seth Rogen, Nikki Glaser, Rob Riggle, Meghan Trainor, Ron Funches, and Atsuko Okatsuka were also on the list of scheduled performances. News of ABC scrapping the special was confirmed by Variety, on the heels of a woman known as Shannon "Shay" Ruth filing a sexual battery lawsuit alleging that Carter raped and infected her with HPV (human papillomavirus infection) when she was 17. 

The Blast shared that the now 39-year-old spared no details during a December 8 press conference with her lawyers, which was held at the Los Angeles Beverly Hilton hotel. Alleging that the assault occurred in February 2001 after the boy band's concert in Tacoma, Washington State, she said:

"The last 21 years have been filled with pain, confusion, frustration, shame, and self-harm that are a direct result of Nick Carter raping me. Even though I'm autistic and live with cerebral palsy, I believe that nothing has affected me more or had a more lasting impact on my life than what Nick Carter did and said to me."

Ruth alleged that Carter had invited her to hang out with him on his tour bus after she had spent some time in the autograph line. The singer then took her to the bathroom, demanding that the teen perform oral sex on him. 

Afterward, the "8 Simple Rules" star allegedly proceeded to assault Ruth on a bed sexually. When she tried exiting the tour bus, Carter stopped her, then grabbed her arm, where he left a bruise and yelled at her.

Per court documents, Ruth claimed that she was a virgin before the unfortunate encounter and that she contracted HPV after it happened. Ruth explained that it took her so much time to come forward with her story because she was scared of being thrown into jail if she recounted what allegedly happened between her and the now 42-year-old.

Luckily, the plaintiff received new insight on the matter, birthing a primary goal to "stop" the "Dancing with the Stars" regular from "assaulting more teens and women." "Just because Nick Carter is a celebrity does not mean that he is excused from his crimes. I am a survivor and always will be," Ruth concluded her speech.

Carter has since denied the allegations.

The Blast broke the news of The Backstreet Boys teaming up with Elf on the Shelf to bring "A Very Backstreet Christmas Backstreet Boys Experience" to fans in October. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity saw the "I Want It That Way" hitmakers auctioning their music and time to a lucky winner and a guest of their choice. 

The winner and their guest were expected to win an all-inclusive trip, kicking off the festive season in Los Angeles with the band before turning up at the official release party for their Christmas album. 

Elaborately explained, the grand prize included airline tickets for two people to either the Los Angeles or the Burbank airport, a three-night hotel stay from November 30 to December 3, two tickets for the winner and guest to the official album release party on December 1, a photo op with the bn, and an autographed "A Very Backstreet Christmas" compact disc for both the winner and their guest.

The auction, which took place on eBay for charity, was presented by Auction Cause. All net proceeds from the auction were expected to go to Point Hope, Inc. The starting bid for the auction was $999.00, and it went live at 4:00 PM PST. Amber Walz and Julie Wagoner won the auction.