What you need to know about “fallen idols”

Melissa Schuman is opening up about her decision to duet with Nick Carter after he allegedly raped her in 2003.

Schuman — who sued Carter, 44, for sexual assault in Los Angeles Superior Court in April 2023 — explained in the Investigation Discovery documentary series “Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter,” which premiered Monday, that she felt pressure from her manager to record “There For Me” with Carter in order to launch her solo career.

“When I look back on that song now, I feel like it was almost premeditated, where it was presented as if it was actually going to help me, but in reality it seemed more like an alibi for him,” she declared.

“Fallen Idols” delves into the sexual assault allegations against the Backstreet Boys singer, including interviews with accusers Schuman, Ashley Repp and Shay Ruth, as well as his ex-girlfriend Kaya Jones and Melanie Martin, the former fiancée of the late Aaron Carter. .

“These are the exact same outrageous claims that led us to prosecute this gang of conspirators. These cases are currently working their way through the court system and, based on the initial court rulings and overwhelming evidence, we “We are confident that we will prevail and hold them accountable for spreading these lies,” Dale Hayes Jr., a lawyer for Carter, told USA TODAY in a statement Tuesday regarding the docuseries.

Aaron Carter's mental health and substance abuse issues are also addressed in the docuseries.

In the docuseries, the former Dream pop singer opened up about the shame she said she suffered after working with Carter following the alleged assault.

“People don't understand and say, 'Well, you followed him on Twitter. You sent him your condolences. You liked a tweet.' I was really trying my best to find forgiveness and move on with my life.”

Schuman said her manager Kenneth Crear introduced her to the song and she later learned he was “like family” to Carter.

“My first thought was, 'Should I be alone with him?' And Kenneth goes, “Oh, no, it’s already pre-recorded. You just have to go out there and do your part.” I could feel Kenneth's eyes on me, like he was watching me, and he said, 'Nick is dating Paris Hilton,' she said at the time.

Sony Records then held a showcase for her to land a record deal and “completely froze” when she found out Carter would be joining her.

“I was scared,” she remembers. “And I was very cold to him and we sang our duet. I don't think I even looked at him and finally he said, 'Well, clearly we don't like each other.' And those were the last words he said to me.”

Nick Carter's former manager refutes Melissa Schuman's account of the duo, showcase

In a signed declaration filed by Crear in April 2023, he refutes Schuman's account of how the duo formed and his fear regarding the showcase.

“I remember Ms. Schuman being happy and excited to sing with Mr. Carter,” he wrote. “I am aware that Ms. Schuman is accusing Mr. Carter of sexually assaulting her in 2003. I am disappointed and ashamed that she is misrepresenting and misrepresenting her experiences working with me and during the Showcase in an attempt to legitimize/corroborate her assault . history.”

The former manager of Carter and the Backstreet Boys also claimed that the show was intended for “many artists” and that Schuman “knew well before the Showcase that she would perform the duet with Mr. Carter. Her testimony suggesting otherwise is fake”.

Crear said both singers “performed the song without any problems” and that Schuman “hung out and socialized” with him and Carter after the show.

Nick and Aaron Carter doc announced by the network 'Quiet on Set': Watch the trailer

Why did Melissa Schuman sue Nick Carter?

In a complaint filed in Los Angeles, Schuman alleged that Carter used “his role, status and power as a well-known singer to access, manipulate, exploit and sexually assault,” according to the lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY.

In court documents, Schuman said the alleged assault took place in Carter's Santa Monica apartment. She claimed Carter forced himself on her while she told him “over and over again that she was a virgin, that she was saving herself for her future husband and that she did not want to have sex.”

Schuman also claimed that Carter infected her with HPV, a sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts and other health problems.

Carter's attorney, Liane K. Wakayama, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement at the time that Schuman's suit was a “PR stunt.”

“Melissa Schuman has been peddling this story for many years, but her allegations were false when she first made it in 2017 – and they still are,” Wakayama said.

The trial came weeks after a Nevada judge ruled that Carter could sue Schuman and his father Jerome Schuman, as well as another Carter accuser, Shannon “Shay” Ruth.

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Melissa Schuman spoke out for the first time about Nick Carter's alleged assault in 2017

Schuman first published a blog post detailing his claims in 2017.

“I'm about to share something I've been wanting to do like it's never happened since I was 18,” Schuman wrote. “A burden I thought I would have to carry for the rest of my life and suffer in silence.”

Schuman said Carter “was relentless, refusing to take no for an answer” and said he performed oral sex on her and forced Schuman to perform sexual acts before raping her.

According to Schuman's post, the incident occurred shortly after they were cast in a TV movie together, 2004's “The Hollow.” At the time, Carter was 22 years old.

Schuman wrote that she had intended to come forward shortly after the meeting, but her manager at the time, Nils Larsen, convinced her it was not a good idea.

After Schuman's blog post was published in 2017, Carter also denied the allegations in a statement to USA TODAY.

“I am shocked and saddened by Ms. Schuman’s accusations,” the singer said. “Melissa never told me while we were together or at any time that anything we did was not consensual. We later recorded a song and performed together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa , both personally and professionally This is the first time I have heard of these accusations, almost two decades later. It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to my heart. intentionally harm someone or cause harm.

How to watch 'Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter'

“Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter” will air on Investigation Discovery for two nights on May 27 and 28 at 9 p.m. ET. The episodes will also air on Max.

Contributor: Morgan Hines

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and in Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and in Español RAINN.org/es.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Carter on 'Fallen Idols': What We Know About Melissa Shuman's Claims