Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter denies sexual assault accusation

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Nick Carter has released a statement vehemently denying an accusation made by former Dream singer Melissa Schuman that he forced her into having sex with him.

Melissa, now 33, wrote a blog post in which she alleged the Backstreet Boys star performed oral sex on her without her consent and then made her perform a reciprocal act on him.

Following that, Melissa - who was a virgin at the time - then claimed that Nick took her to his bedroom and had sex with her without her consent, with her repeatedly telling the pop star that she was saving herself for marriage.

She claims the assault took place back in 2002 after he invited her to his Santa Monica home for a "casual hangout". Melissa admits that she willingly shared a kiss with Nick after a "few shots" but did not want things to go any further.

Nick, 37, has now addressed her allegation for the first time and in a statement issued to PEOPLE has said that anything that happened between them which was sexual was consensual.

Photo / Getty

He said: "I am shocked and saddened by Ms. Schuman's accusations. Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since, that anything we did was not consensual. We went on to record a song and perform together, and I was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally.

"This is the first that I am hearing about these accusations, nearly two decades later. It is contrary to my nature and everything I hold dear to intentionally cause someone discomfort or harm."

Following the alleged incident, Melissa went on to sign with Nick's manager Kenneth Crear and she recorded several songs as a showcase for a major label, including a duet with Nick.

However, she was never signed and "quickly lost interest in pursuing a career as a recording artist".

Melissa - who was a member of girl group Dream at the time - alleges that Nick began kissing her and unbuttoned her pants, and although she claims she said she "didn’t want to go any further", she says Nick "didn’t listen" and "didn’t care".

Writing in a lengthy blog post, Melissa said: "He was stronger and much bigger than me, and there was no way I would be able to open that door or have anyone help me.

Photo / Getty

"I felt scared and trapped. He was visually and clearly growing very angry and impatient with me. I couldn’t leave. So when he placed my hand on his penis my thought was the only way to get out was to get him to finish what he had started. That’s where I saw myself, my reflection, watching myself do something that I was sickened by.

Watching myself be assaulted, forced to engage in an act against my will."

Melissa also alleges Nick carried her to his bedroom and forced her to have sex with him, and claims she told him she was a virgin who was saving herself for marriage.

She wrote in her blog post: "I told him that I was a virgin and I didn’t want to have sex. I told him that I was saving myself for my future husband. I said it over and over again.

"It was done. The one thing I had held as a virtue had been ruined. I went limp, turned my head to my left and decided I would just go to sleep now. I wanted to believe it was some sort of nightmare I was dreaming up."

The former singer - who was 18 at the time of the alleged incident - claims she was left "broken" by the ordeal, and whilst she told her close family a long time ago, she feels now is the right time to speak publicly about what happened.

She wrote: "I was broken. I was tired. I was traumatised. I told my therapist. I told my family. I told my friends. I have a plethora of people who can attest that I eventually became open vocal about my experience, I’ve just never had the platform to come out publicly."

- Bang! Showbiz