Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
Friends, fans and former associates pay tribute to singer and actor Aaron Carter after he died Saturday at age 34. Known for hits like “I Want Candy” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq”, Aaron grew up in the entertainment industry, releasing his first album in 1997 at the age of 9. That same year, he performed as the opening act for the Backstreet Boys, his older brother Nick’s band. In addition to guest starring in shows like Sabrina the teenage witch and 7th heavenAaron made a memorable appearance Lizzie McGuire, shares a kiss with his then-girlfriend Hilary Duff in a Christmas episode. But over the course of his career in the spotlight, the heartthrob of the 2000s faced challenges with his mental health and substance abuse. In 2019, his brother Nick and sister Angel filed a restraining order against him, citing safety concerns and expressing hopes that he would receive “proper treatment”.
“My heart is broken,” Nick wrote on Instagram after the news of Aaron’s death. “Although my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never faded.” The Backstreet Boys paid tribute to Aaron at their London show, with the band holding a grieving Nick. Duff also took to social media to commemorate the late singer, writing in a statement: “I am very sorry that life was so difficult for you and that you had to fight for the whole world. You had a charm that was absolutely bubbly … boy, how my teen I loved you very much.’ Find more tributes to Aaron’s life below from Paris Hilton, Diane Warren, *NSYNC, New Kids on the Block and others who knew him.
