Aaron Carter’s older brother, Nick, expressed his heartbreak following the singer’s death at the age of 34 in an Instagram post on Sunday, saying that despite their “complicated relationship,” his love for Carter “has never ever faded.”
“I have always held onto the hope, that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed,” Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter wrote in a caption alongside photos of the brothers over the years. “Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss. But the truth is that addiction and mental illness is the real villain here.”
“I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know,” he continued. “I love you Chizz, now you get a chance to finally have some peace you could never find here on earth…. God, please take care of my baby brother.”
Nick Carter’s statement on Sunday comes after a family source told CNN on Saturday that Carter, who rose to fame as a young boy with songs like “I Want Candy” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq,” was found dead in his bathtub.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told CNN that the department responded to a call for help at Carter’s Lancaster, California, home around 11 a.m. on Saturday. where a deceased person was discovered, local time
Aaron’s twin Angel, Nick Carter’s sister, paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “To my twin… I loved you beyond measure.”
“My funny, sweet Aaron, I have so many memories of you and I, and I promise to cherish them. I know you’re at peace now. I will carry you with me until the day I die and get to see you again.”
The singer has previously spoken openly about his struggles with mental health, but in an interview with CNN, he denied having substance abuse issues.
Carter’s relationship with his siblings was strained at times: in 2019, Nick announced that he and Angel had filed for a restraining order against their brother, alleging in a statement that his youngest brother harbored “intentions of killing my wife and unborn child.” Aaron Carter denied the allegations, saying he wished no harm to anyone.
Backstreet Boys paid tribute to Aaron Carter on Sunday night during their London concert. Nick Carter can be seen crying and being hugged by band members.
“Tonight we got a little bit of heavy hearts because we lost one of our family members yesterday,” Kevin Richardson said. “We just wanted to find a moment in our show to recognize him. “
“We would like to dedicate this next song to our little brother, Aaron Carter,” Howie Dorough said. “May you rest in peace.”
The song Breathe is then performed by the group.
Among those paying tribute to Carter are Hilary Duff, who played the titular character on the Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” on which Carter once appeared as a guest star.
“For Aaron – I’m deeply sorry that life was so hard for you and that you had to struggle in-front of the whole world,” Duff wrote on Instagram.
“You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent… boy did my teenage self love you deeply,” she added. “Sending love to your family at this time.”
Melissa Joan Hart also posted a photo of herself with Carter and wrote, “Sending love to the family and friends and fans of #AaronCarter. Rest In Peace!”
“We are shocked and saddened about the sudden passing of Aaron Carter. Sending prayers to the Carter family. Rest in peace, Aaron.” the band New Kids on the Block said on Twitter.
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