A lawyer for Brian Littrell has shot down claims that he used a homophobic slur in a video taken during a scuffle at his Florida home.
Multiple outlets accused the Backstreet Boys star of insulting an alleged trespassing beachgoer, Kyle Gallagher, with homophobic language.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Littrell's attorney insisted, "The claim that Mr Littrell used a homophobic slur is false. The full video of the encounter shows unequivocally that no such language was used. Sexual orientation played no role in this incident, and any suggestion otherwise is knowingly false."
Littrell reportedly claimed that Gallagher had committed battery against him while trespassing one Sunday in late March, striking his hand and disturbing the peace.
Gallagher countered that he was startled by Littrell's phone being so close to his face and grabbed it out of reflex.
Police concluded there was an overall lack of criminal intent and did not press charges.
Littrell bought his Santa Rosa Beach house in 2023 and has been beset by trespassing issues ever since.
"Mr Littrell and his family purchased what they saw as their dream home, only to discover an ongoing pattern of trespassing and harassment targeting private property owners along their and their neighbours' stretch of beach," a legal statement explained.
"These actions are not about public access, public beaches exist on both sides of the neighbourhood and remain open and uncrowded. Instead, certain individuals appear intent on challenging the very concept of private property rights."
In Florida, sand below the high tide water mark is public, while dry sand above the high tide line can be privately owned.
