By: Lucy Panicacci

Culture Editor

On Nov. 5, authorities found former singer and teen star Aaron Carter dead in his Southern California home. At around 11:00 AM, a housekeeper called police to Carter’s home in Lancaster after finding him unresponsive in a bathtub. Currently, the exact cause of death is unknown, but Carter was open about suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse, enrolling himself in rehab for the fifth time in September. His brother and member of the Backstreet Boys, Nick Carter, released a statement declaring, “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.”

Carter achieved great success at a young age. The young sensation was most known for his song I Want Candy. At only nine years old, he opened for the Backstreet Boys and released his first album Aaron Carter. Three years later, he released his most famous album Aaron’s Party (Come Get It), which sold a whopping three million copies and reached number four on the Billboard top 200 list. He even performed for Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again Tour in 2000. A. Carter additionally starred in the Broadway productions The Fantasticks and Seussical.

After A. Carter’s passing, N. Carter released an Instagram post honoring him, stating, “Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded. I have always held on to the hope that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed.” In 2019, N. Carter and his sister filed a restraining order against A. Carter due to alleged threats of violence. 

Carter and the rest of the Backstreet Boys paid tribute to his younger brother during their emotional concert in London on Nov. 6. Before dedicating their 2013 song Breathe to him, Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson announced, “We got a little bit of heavy hearts because we lost one of our family members yesterday. And we just want to find a moment in our show to recognize him.” Richardson added, “He’s a part of our family and we thank you guys for all the love, all your well wishes and all your support.”

The 34-year-old had hopeful plans for the future and was excited to put his second home on the market in October. A. Carter stated, “I’m about to be 35 years old. I’m a grown man and it’s time to start behaving that way and doing the right thing and focusing on myself, my career, my kid, and my family.” 

(Sources: LA Times, NY Times)