Nick Carter denies rape allegations, says autistic woman is being 'manipulated' into accusations

Former teen heartthrob and Backstreet Boy Nick Carter this week denied rape allegations leveled at him, claiming the woman making them has been "manipulated" into doing so and that she has changed her story about the alleged incident several times.

Nevada resident Shannon Ruth filed the accusation this week, which claims that Carter incapacitated her with alcohol and then assaulted her after a Backstreet Boys show in Tacoma, Wash., in 2001. 

In statements to media, Carter through his attorney claimed that Shay's allegations are "not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue.”

“Unfortunately, for several years now, Ms. Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick – and those allegations have changed repeatedly and materially over time," the statement said. 

At a press conference on Thursday, Ruth—who suffers from both autism and cerebral palsy—claimed that the alleged assault left her with "pain, confusion, frustration, shame, and self-harm."

"Just because Nick Carter is a celebrity does not mean that he is excused from his crimes," she said during the conference.

In the wake of the allegations, ABC said it would pull the planned Christmas special "A Very Backstreet Holiday," from its lineup this month.