Melissa Schuman has testified that she told actress Kaley Cuoco about her allegations against Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter in 2003, shortly after the alleged incident. However, testimony from two people who worked with the pair on the film The Hollow has challenged aspects of Schuman's account as their legal dispute continues.
Schuman, a former member of the girl group Dream, made the statement during a deposition in April 2026. She alleged that Carter sexually assaulted her in Santa Monica, California, while they were working on the film. Carter has denied the allegations, maintaining that their encounter was consensual.
The latest depositions include testimony from The Hollow producer Daniel Levin and Schuman's former manager, Nils Larsen. Both disputed aspects of her account, including whether she had told them about the alleged assault.
Melissa Schuman Says She Told Kaley Cuoco
During her April 2026 deposition, Schuman testified that she told Cuoco about the alleged assault on her final day of filming in April 2003. Cuoco also appeared in The Hollow, which was released in 2004.
Schuman alleged that Carter assaulted her when she was 18 and he was 22. She also described receiving messages from the singer following the alleged incident. According to her testimony, Carter later referred to her as a 'manipulative bitch' in a message, prompting her to change her phone number.
Cuoco's name emerged in the case because of Schuman's claim that she had disclosed the alleged assault to the actress. Cuoco has not independently confirmed Schuman's account. A source close to Cuoco said the actress had not been deposed to establish the truth of Schuman's allegations.
Film Producer Daniel Levin Disputes Her Account
Levin, the producer of The Hollow, was questioned by Carter's legal team as part of the proceedings. During his deposition, Levin said he had not observed signs of fear, distress, avoidance or behavioural changes in Schuman when she interacted with Carter on set.
He also testified that the film crew would have taken action if a sexual assault had been reported to them. Levin's testimony focused on his observations during production and whether he had noticed any indication of a problem between the two performers.
Former Manager Denies Allegations
Larsen, Schuman's former manager, also disputed her account during his deposition. Schuman has alleged that she told Larsen about the incident and that he advised her against reporting it to the authorities. Larsen denied that she had told him Carter sexually assaulted her.
Instead, Larsen testified that Schuman had told him she had a crush on Carter. He also said the pair appeared to get along while working on The Hollow. The two accounts differ over what Schuman says she disclosed after the alleged incident and what Larsen recalls from their conversations.
Schuman First Went Public With Allegations in 2017
Schuman first made her allegations public in 2017 and reported them to police that year. Prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges in 2018, citing the statute of limitations.
In April 2023, Schuman filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against Carter over the alleged 2003 incident. Carter has consistently denied the allegations and maintains that the encounter was consensual. In 2024, Carter filed a $2.5 million (around £2 million) countersuit against Schuman, alleging that her claims were false and intended to damage his reputation and interfere with his business opportunities.
Nick Carter Continues To Deny the Allegations
Carter, who rose to international fame as a member of the Backstreet Boys, has rejected Schuman's account of the alleged incident. The latest depositions add to the competing accounts, with Levin and Larsen disputing parts of Schuman's testimony about the incident and her subsequent disclosures.
The legal dispute remains ongoing, with a hearing on Carter's motion to dismiss Schuman's sexual battery claim scheduled for 6 November 2026. The parties have also been ordered to complete mediation by 10 January 2027, ahead of a trial scheduled for 10 May 2027. Carter continues to deny Schuman's allegations.
