Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell says he has been threatened with guns and arson for preventing strangers from using his private beach.

He and his wife, Leighanne Littrell, have alleged that people have encroached on the sand outside their home in Walton County, Florida, prompting them to hire private security and install “No trespassing” signs. Now, they’re opening up about the “crazy” messages they have received from local residents, though they declined to name the people involved.

“It will eventually come out… all the pictures and the documents that we have from social media and the threats, the physical threats, to my family,” Littrell told Fox News. “They’ve talked about burning our house down, burning it down. They’ve talked about bringing guns. They said, ‘Yeah, guns are allowed in Florida.’ They want to spray us with mace. They want to punch my teeth out, you know, it’s like, it’s crazy.”

Leighanne added, “It’s scary to have to be in this small community with a lot of angry people, honestly, and then making us out to be these monsters that we’re not. We love this town, but now we don’t know where to eat because of who hates us.”

According to Visit South Walton, public access to some privately owned beaches is allowed up to 20 feet landward from the wet/dry sand line, and sunbathing is allowed from 9am to 4pm. However, Brian’s attorneys have argued the beach is the family’s “backyard.” “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,” lawyer Peter Ticktin said. “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 September, attorneys for Brian and Leighanne filed a complaint against a 67-year-old Florida woman named Carolyn Barrington Hill for allegedly trespassing on their Santa Rosa Beach property. A judge dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, prompting Brian and Leighanne to file an amended complaint, citing emotional distress and economic damages in excess of $50,000.

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