Backstreet Boy's nightclub arrest

Officers told Carter (centre) to leave the club

Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter has been arrested for refusing to leave a nightclub after a fight broke out.

Police said the boy-band member ignored more than 10 requests to leave the club in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, after becoming involved in an argument.

I truly believe my celebrity motivated the officer to arrest me

Nick Carter

But Carter, 21, accused police of victimising him because of his fame.

Officers asked him to leave the venue when he began arguing with a woman as they restored order following a fight.

He was charged with a misdemeanour count of resisting or opposing a law enforcement officer without violence on Wednesday, and will appear in court in March.

'Full investigation'

"I truly believe my celebrity motivated the officer to arrest me," he said.

"I am certain that after a full investigation of the facts my name will be cleared."

Police were called to the Pop City club to deal with violence twice on Tuesday night, and arrested Carter during the second visit.

After repeated orders to get out, officers told Carter to leave by "the count of three" or he would be arrested - but he continued the argument, police say.

Carter said he was trying to comply with the officers' requests, but was "simply moving too slow".

'Not unusual'

He was handcuffed and taken away in a police car.

"Outside of who this defendant is, it's not that unusual a thing to happen," Carter's spokesman said.

The incident is a further blow to the group's image after fellow band member AJ McLean went into rehabilitation for depression and alcohol abuse last summer.

The Backstreet Boys are one of the most successful boy bands in the world, and claimed a global record for first week sales when their Black and Blue album was released in 2000.