ABC Cancels Backstreet Boys Holiday Special Amid Nick Carter Sexual Battery Lawsuit - TMZ

Backstreet Boys ABC Cancels Christmas Special Amid Nick's Sexual Battery Lawsuit

12/9/2022 6:59 AM PT

ABC is pulling the plug connected Christmas with the Backstreet Boys ... a precocious determination that comes instantly connected the heels of Nick Carter being accused of intersexual battery.

The band's special, "A Very Backstreet Holiday," was acceptable to aerial connected ABC adjacent week, and featured each 5 singers -- Nick, Brian, Howie, AJ and Kevin -- but the web has canceled the airing ... TMZ has confirmed.

The peculiar was changeable past period successful L.A., and, astatine this stage, would beryllium implicit and acceptable to air. ABC isn't offering immoderate mentation for the last-minute cancelation, but with the announcement coming little than 24 hours aft the suit against Carter ... it's beauteous clear.

TMZ broke the communicative ... Shannon Ruth sued the vocalist Thursday for sexual battery, saying she was 17 backmost successful 2001 erstwhile was allegedly invited connected his circuit autobus and fixed alcohol.

According to ineligible docs, Ruth -- who's autistic with cerebral palsy -- was past sexually assaulted by Carter ... and erstwhile she threatened to archer radical astir what helium did, helium allegedly called her a "r******* small bitch" who nary 1 would believe. She says she contracted HPV aft the incidental and is present seeking damages.

Nick's attorney, Michael Holtz, told america the full assertion "is not lone legally meritless but besides wholly untrue" ... saying Ruth has been manipulated into making mendacious allegations astir Nick.