Why was the Backstreet Boys holiday special pulled from ABC?

Right now with the holiday season, all the broadcast networks are celebrating in their own way with a variety of specials. One that was scheduled for ABC was A Very Backstreet Holiday with the infamous pop group. Now, the network has decided not to air the holiday special ahead of its Dec. 14 premiere. Why did this happen?

The special was supposed to feature all five of the band’s members – AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, and Nick Carter – as they performed songs from their new holiday album. Special guests to appear included Seth Rogen, Meghan Trainor, Rob Riggle, Nikki Glaser, Ron Funches, and Atsuko Okatsuka, according to Variety.

So what happened just days before the special was set to air on the network? We have the answer for you below.

Why was the Backstreet Boys holiday special pulled from ABC?

According to Deadline, the program has been pulled by ABC because one member of the group, Carter, is being accused of raping a then 17-year-old girl after a concert in Tacoma, Washington during the vocalists’ 2001 tour.

The news outlet reports Shannon Ruth has filed a lawsuit against Carter, stating he took her to his tour bus, gave her what he called “VIP juice,” and sexually assaulted her. The singer’s attorney said what happened is untrue, so Carter is denying these allegations.

The special, which was supposed to be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET, has been replaced with a rerun episode of The Conners season 5 in the ABC schedule. Later that night at 10 p.m. ET, another holiday special will air (it was already a part of the schedule before ABC pulled the Backstreet Boys program).

Finding Harmony features John Legend and chorus director David Brown. For over a decade, Brown has brought complete strangers together and healed communities by asking them to join a chorus, per the synopsis. The Grammy Award-winner would like the chorus director’s help to do the same in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio.