Singer Melissa Schuman , who for years has alleged the Backstreet Boys Nick Carter raped her in 2003, has filed a lawsuit reviving the claim that Carter attacked her when she was 18.

Schuman, a former member of the 2000s girl group Dream, accused Carter of forcing her into oral sex, and of using his role, status, and power as a well-known singer to gain access to, groom, manipulate, exploit and rape her, according to the suit, obtained by multiple outlets.

Schuman, now 38, first accused Carter in late 2017 . She said the assault occurred at Carters apartment in Santa Monica, California, where he refused to take my nos for an answer.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office years ago declined to prosecute Carter, citing the 2013 statute of limitations expiration. Schuman, speaking to the New York Post , cited a new California law temporarily lifting limitations on filing civil lawsuits making sexual assault claims.

Its time that powerful figures in the music industry get the message that they can no longer afford to enable and protect sexual predators, Schuman told the outlet. Im fighting to make the music industry a safer place to work and perform.

Carter has vehemently denied assaulting Schuman. His lawyer called the lawsuit a PR stunt.

Melissa Schuman has been peddling this tale for many years, but her allegation was false when she first made it back in 2017 and it still is, Liane K. Wakayama, Carters attorney, told Rolling Stone . This PR stunt wont shake Nick.