Backstreet Boys

Drake celebrated his milestone 40th birthday in a big way, taking over New York City with an extravagant bash featuring a surprise performance by the Backstreet Boys, luxury giveaways, and massive cash prizes ... TMZ has learned.

Sources at the party tell TMZ ... the rapper hosted more than 400 of his closest friends and family at the exclusive Casa Cipriani in NYC Friday for an unforgettable night, with the iconic boy band taking the stage to entertain the crowd.

We’re told Drake spared no expense when it came to his guests … with attendees treated to luxury giveaways, including designer handbags from Chanel and Hermès.

10/24/26 11:31 AM PT -- A source close to the case tells TMZ Kaley has not been deposed to “attest to the veracity of” Melissa’s claims. The source added that multiple people who worked on the 2003 film testified Melissa did not bring up any alleged assault.

One of the women suing Nick Carter for sexual assault claims she confided in actress Kaley Cuoco days after the alleged incident ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the transcript of accuser Melissa Schuman's deposition in April, and it reveals the former Dream singer was grilled about who she told about the alleged assault.

Remember ... Melissa claims Nick assaulted her inside a Santa Monica apartment around 2003 ... when she was 18, and Nick was 22.

During the deposition, Melissa testified she confided in Kaley on the final day of filming in April 2003 ... Kaley and Melissa starred in a film, "The Hollows," released in 2004 … along with Nick.

Nick Carter’s sexual assault accuser, Melissa Schuman, fears harassment from the pop star’s fans, TMZ has learned. For his part, the pop star claims Melissa's alleged false claims have caused severe harm to his career.

Melissa filed new court docs asking a judge for permission to submit her medical records under seal in her legal battle with Nick.

In her filing, Melissa claims she has been the target of a campaign of harassment, threats, doxxing, and intimidation following her coming forward with her claims about Nick.

Nick Carter claims multiple people connected to his sexual assault accuser, Melissa Schuman, refute her version of events.

Nick is locked in ongoing legal battle against Melissa, who claims the pop star assaulted her in 2003 in a Santa Monica apartment, and he filed new legal docs claiming his old roommate James "Tony" Bass was present on the night in question and testified that he never saw Melissa distressed.

Bass said he saw Nick and Melissa drinking, socializing, flirting, and making out. He further testified he heard kissing and playful interactions but said "[a]t no point in the night did I observe Melissa to be upset, fearful or otherwise distraught in any way." He added that Melissa appeared "happy and totally comfortable throughout the night."

Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean once had a 2 AM call time -- and made a midnight decision that stuck with him for years.

The singer is reflecting on his career in the new docuseries “Boy Band Confidential: A Hollywood Demons Event,” revealing his first time trying drugs went down in 2000 ... just hours before a late-night video shoot.

At the peak of BSB fame, AJ says the night started low-key -- dinner with the guys, then a nap -- but things took a turn when he woke up groggy ahead of that brutal overnight shoot. A friend offered him something to “wake up” -- and pulled out a bag to seal the deal.

Backstreet's back ... perhaps in a beef with NSYNC thanks to Brian Littrell taking a hilarious jab at the rival boy band in police body cam footage, obtained by TMZ.

Watch the video ... the police question Littrell about an altercation the Backstreet Boy had with a guy he accused of assaulting him on his property. After Brian says the other guy was going after him "because I'm a celebrity" ... one of the cops says she recognizes BL and breaks out into "Bye Bye Bye."

Nice try officer, but of course, that's the wrong band ... and Brian didn't hesitate to let her know that!

9:45 AM PT -- TMZ obtained the uncensored video of Brian Littrell and the beachgoer going at it, and he does NOT use an epithet. Check it out here ... Brian did curse, but no slurs were hurled.

Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys is in hot water today after a video reportedly appears to show Littrell calling someone the homophobic f-slur.

In the video, obtained by local outlet WMBB, Littrell confronts a beachgoer identified as Kyle Gallagher. During the altercation, PEOPLE reports Littrell appears to say, "You want to be gay? Want to be a f*****?"

And get this ... Littrell submitted the video himself because he thought it would help his case against Gallagher! But Littrell's attempt to press criminal charges failed ... big time.

Littrell reportedly tried to press battery charges against Gallagher, but prosecutors decided not to after the video appeared to back up Gallagher's side of what happened.

In the affidavit, Littrell reportedly accused Gallagher of striking his hand and claiming Gallagher "was belligerent and disturbing the peace." But Gallagher reportedly told cops he was just "startled" by Littrell holding his phone so close to his face.

Ultimately, Walton County's Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell reportedly cited "lack of criminal intent" as a reason he didn't recommend a warrant.

The Backstreet Boys made headlines Sunday with their hilarious Super Bowl commercial ... but that's not enough for them -- they now have their sights set on the next halftime show!

AJ McLean threw their hat in the ring last night during a show at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

The singer proposed the idea of the band headlining the 2027 Super Bowl Halftime Show to a screaming crowd, who -- it's safe to say -- fervently supported the idea.

The Backstreet Boys made the "right decision" not signing with Shaquille O'Neal back in the day ... so says AJ McLean, who tells TMZ Sports while he adores the NBA legend -- he doubts they'd have the same success had they inked a deal with him.

It's a wild story, but 100% true -- both BSB and *NSYNC used Shaq's Orlando studio to record some of their earliest music when he was a member of the Magic in the '90s ... and O'Neal has openly expressed his regret over not pouncing on the opportunity to work with the boy bands in an official capacity.

We caught up with AJ recently ... and asked a good ol' "what if?"

AJ McLean wants to capitalize on a viral mashup of an old Backstreet Boys hit and a new Taylor Swift song ... and he's asking Taylor if she wants to perform with his band in Las Vegas ... telling us such a collab would "break the planet."

We got AJ at LAX on Tuesday and our photog asked him about potentially working with Taylor ... who has indicated she likes the "Elizabeth Taylor" and "Everybody" mix.

AJ posted a video on Instagram with the mashup, showing him lip synching ... and Taylor commented, "OH HI AJ OH MY GOD."

The Backsteet Boys are winning big in Sin City ... because we found out how much they are raking in with their Las Vegas residency ... and it's a huge figure.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … the band is grossing $4 million a night for their ongoing residency at the Sphere.

Here's how they're pulling in that much on the daily ... our sources say there's not much overhead or significant expenses involved -- they paid a one time fee of about $7 to $8 million for all the graphics they use in their shows -- and they've more than recouped what they spent on creative.

Backstreet Boys fans who couldn't get tickets to the band's residency at the Sphere shouldn't be too bummed ... as BSB member Howie Dorough just gave an impromptu performance while out and about in Las Vegas.

Check it out ... the boy bander hit the stage at Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails at The Cosmopolitan in Sin City Thursday night, where he was celebrating his 52nd birthday with his wife, Leigh Boniello, and friends.

While the singer wasn't slated to perform, given he was the guest of honor, HD surprised fans with a solo performance of Backstreet Boys' hit, "I Want It That Way."

An *NSYNC vs. Backstreet Boys golf match might actually happen -- this I promise you -- 'cause Lance Bass tells TMZ Sports he's accepting the "Larger Than Life" crooners' challenge!!

Just a few days after Brian Littrell and Nick Carter told us they wanted to mix it up with *NSYNC on the links ... Bass made it clear he's down.

"Of course," he said while out in Los Angeles ... "Bring it!"

Forget Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the man who created "The Match" tells TMZ Sports he wants the next iteration of the famed golf event to feature the Backstreet Boys vs. *NSYNC!

Bryan Zuriff -- a film and TV producer who brought "The Match" to life in 2018 -- said on Friday he's all in on the idea of the boy band battle on the links ... after he heard BSB issue Justin Timberlake and Co. the challenge on TMZ Sports this week.

Zuriff said he's got a big vision for the potential event ... explaining he wants it to go down at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas -- with the Sphere (where BSB are currently performing) in the backdrop!

A boy band battle between the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC might finally go down ... but sorry, music heads -- if BSB has it their way, it won't be with microphones.

Nick Carter and Brian Littrell told TMZ Sports this week they actually want to take on Justin Timberlake and Co. in a golf match!

The guys threw down the challenge while they were playing a round at Pebble Beach ... during a brief break from their tour at the Sphere in Las Vegas.