Brian Littrell, a member of the iconic boy band Backstreet Boys, has revealed that his family has been subjected to a relentless barrage of threats due to a contentious dispute over their "private" beachfront property in Florida. In an interview published by Fox News on March 24, Brian, 51, spoke candidly about the escalating hostilities his family has endured.
"It's all going to come out... the pictures, the documents, the social media threats, and even the physical threats against my family," he said. "People have talked about burning down our house... They've even discussed bringing guns, claiming that guns are allowed in Florida. They've threatened to spray us with mace and punch out my teeth. It's absolutely crazy."
The source of these threats, according to Brian, stems from certain members of the Walton County community who have not been named. In a civil complaint, Brian alleges that his family—including his wife Leighanne, 56, and their son Baylee, 23—has been subjected to trespassing and harassment from a neighbor of their beachfront property.
Leighanne expressed her fear and frustration with the situation, stating, "It's scary to be in this small community with a lot of angry people, and then being portrayed as monsters when we're not. We love this town, but now we don't know where to eat because of who hates us."
The Littrells purchased their property in Santa Rosa Beach in Walton County for $3.8 million in 2023. However, since then, they have allegedly faced issues with individuals encroaching on their beach, prompting them to put up no trespassing signs and hire private security, according to a supplemental complaint filed by Brian against the Walton County Sheriff's Office last year.
Visit South Walton encourages public access to privately owned beaches up to 20 feet landward from the wet/dry sand line for activities like walking, running, and entering the water for swimming or other recreation. However, sunbathing is only allowed in these areas from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Brian's attorneys argue that the beach is their family's "backyard." Peter Ticktin of Ticktin Law Group told Fox News, "I know Brian is referring to the beach as a piece of sand, but the fact of the matter is, that's his backyard. That's his private backyard. For people to decide to camp out in his backyard is no different than if they were to camp out in anybody else's backyard."
In a civil complaint first filed in September 2025, Brian, Leighanne, and BLB Beach Hut, LLC (the entity that owns their home) accused local resident Carolyn Barrington Hill of trespassing on seven occasions. The complaint claimed that Hill "set out to antagonize, bully, and harass the Littrell family by frequently trespassing" on their property "in open defiance of the 'No Trespassing' signs." It also alleged that Hill's "trespassing" interfered with their "use and enjoyment of the property."
In December 2025, Littrell voluntarily withdrew his claim of "stalking" from the original filing. On Feb. 17, a judge dismissed the amended complaint "without prejudice." Brian filed another amended complaint on Feb. 25, demanding a jury trial and citing damages in excess of $50,000. Hill responded with a motion to dismiss the complaint on March 17.
Hill's attorney Heidi Mehaffey claimed in a statement shared with PEOPLE that "the amended complaint filed by the Plaintiffs is once again legally deficient and subject to dismissal by the Court." She added that "the Plaintiffs have not provided sufficient factual allegations that would allow the Court to award them the damages and relief they seek." A hearing on the motion has not yet been scheduled.
Mehaffey also noted that Brian's supplemental complaint against the Walton County Sheriff's Office, alleging authorities failed to charge alleged trespassers, was dismissed with prejudice in February. "It is notable that the Judge dismissed on the merits of the pleadings without a hearing, sending a clear message that no oral arguments or amendments would have cured the legal defects," Mehaffey said.
