Nick Carter's Transcript of the Convo He Had With TRL

On January 8, 2002, Nick Carter called into MTV's Total Request Live to explain his arrest at a Tampa Bay nightclub the previous week. He was interviewed live by Suchin Pak. Here is a transcript of the phone interview.

Suchin: As many of you guys heard, last week Nick Carter was arrested in Tampa, Florida. now there have been so many rumors circulating and Nick is actually on the phone with us today speaking out for the very first time about this. Nick are you there? Thank you so much for joining us.

Nick: Thank you.

Audience: Way to go Nick!

Suchin: Someone said "Way to go!". We are behind you here, but tell us exactly what happened that night.

Nick: Well, you know, for legal reasons I can't get too into it, but basically I can tell you that I did not do anything wrong and I know that for a fact, you know? And sometimes things get blown out of proportion as everybody knows. But if I disrespected a cop in any way, I apologize. I didn't mean to do anything at all. People who know me know that I'm not a bad person. So I know better.

Suchin: Can you speak about any of the details? I mean, I've heard from police that there was a fight there and police were brought out and then that you were arguing with a woman at the club and that's when you got arrested. I know, it's just that there are so many things going on, can you clear up any of that for us?

Nick: Well, you know, things happen at clubs sometimes and people get into fights and I wasn't involved in any of that at all. But basically, like I said, things get blown out of proportion for no reason at all and I guess on account that I was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Suchin: You issued a statement, it is interesting, the day after that you thought that your celebrity had something to do with the arrest, you know, that it's Nick from the Backstreet Boys so they're going to make a bigger deal of it than they would have if it was some ordinary person. Is that...?

Nick: Well, it could be you know, but like I said and I'll say it again I'm not the kind of person who gets in trouble. I don't like to get in trouble. But I don't claim to be perfect, you know, that's what we've always said.

Suchin: That must be very difficult for you because being in the public eye it is very difficult to have a very private life and especially when something like this happens and the fans are kind of looking up to you. How do you deal with that?

Nick: Well, it shocked the heck out of me because... when the arrest happened they let me go outside. I never even went to jail.

Suchin: Oh, okay.

Nick: It was just outside. It was kind of like a miscommunication in some ways or a misunderstanding, you know? But it shocked me because before I knew it, it was all over the TV and I'm like "What the heck?"....MTV you definately heard it first.

Suchin: Yeah, just kind of rushed right through it. Now, you said you didn't get arrested. There was talk about you getting handcuffed and going to a cell maybe? It wasn't like that at all?

Nick: No

Suchin: Not like that at all.

Nick: No, not at all.

Suchin: Now, so what happens next, sort of legally, both that as well as does this affect you going into the studio for your next album?

Nick: No, it doesn't affect me at all...I'm from Tampa actually, you know, everybody knows I was raised here and the people of Tampa, they understand and everything. I think everything is gonna work itself out and you know the boys and I are going to go back into the studio and we're gonna keep doing our thing.

Suchin: Right, I've gotta ask, I mean, you've talked to the band obviously. What was that conversation like and who was the first person that you did speak with?

Nick: What, with the other guys?

Suchin: Yeah

Nick: They called and they knew it was blown out of proportion. I got a call from Kevin. He was like "What happened little bro?" and he left a message. He was up in the mountains. So I called him back and left this big message and told him basically what happened, but...unfortunately, this is the kind of stuff that happens sometimes. But just to let everybody know I ain't a bad person. I've never been in trouble my whole life! I was bascially in tears almost.

Suchin: Right, sort of blown out of proportion. Oh Nick! You know, sort of on a side note, I heard and I want you to clarify this, are you working on a solo project? I heard that you might be going into the studio by yourself. I'm trying to clear everything up all at once.

Nick: Getting juicy.

Suchin: Yeah, very juicy, hear it first here on MYV News!

Nick: No, see what we're doing all of us were talking about maybe doing some individual stuff, but I think the main concern is with the group right now. We're talking about it. I'm not dismissing it, saying it's not gonna happen, I'm saying that everything has to go through me and the four other guys.

Suchin: Very cool.

Nick: So if there's any rumors...

Suchin: Let us know first! Thank you so much! (Carson cuts in now) Carson: Wait, wait, I want to jump in. Wassup Nick, this is Carson! Nick: Hey Carson. Carson: Let me just congratulate you on this thing that happened. I think it's very cool that it happened to you. (audience cheering) Carson: You're a Backstreet Boy! Wait a second. This inevitably will be a great thing for your career. I've been busted in strip clubs. We're men, that's what we do all right? (Nick laughs) Don't worry about all this crap. And right now on live TV I would like to make an attempt to guess the liquor that you got all drunk on! (audience cheering) Nick: Oh my goodness! Carson: Help me out there. You said you weren't in the fight so that rules out all the brown liquors like Jack and Jim Bean and probably Yeagers. Uh did you expose yourself? Is that true or not? Nick: Oh, see that's another thing that came out. This just came out of the blue and people started talking about it on the radio station down there and then I guess some girl got on there tallking a bunch of junk and I was like "Whoa!". Carson: I'm upset to hear about that. That would be a nice addition to the story. (Nick laughs) Carson: So that rules out Tequila. I'm gonna go that you had a good 14 to 16 beers that night and was a little out of your mind, is that correct? Nick: No comment! (laughs) Carson: All right, that's nice. Listen, ultimately don't worry about it. I think it's a great thing. Nick: Like I said, I'm not the kind of person who goes overboard on anything and I'm not a bad guy. Carson: You went overboard that night Nick! You did, it's okay. This is the time in our life, you're successful, you are in one of the most successful pop groups in the world, you're a mature man, you are of age, you are allowed to drink, you didn't hurt anybody, you're a celebrity, they're busting your balls, everything is okay. You'll go back. It's not that big of a deal. Nick: No it's not. Carson; So, congratulations to you and men like you all over the country! Thank you Nick! (cheering) Nick: Take care of yourself and don't scream too loud. Carson: Later on. I feel better. Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.

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