Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter spoke publicly on Sunday about the death of his younger brother Aaron Carter, whose body was found at his home in Lancaster, California on Saturday. Aaron Carter, who was also a musician and actor, lived to be 34. The cause of death was not disclosed.
On his Instagram profile, Nick Carter wrote that he was heartbroken. “Even though my brother and I had a complicated relationship, my love for him never waned.”
In the lyrics, the musician attributes Aaron Carter’s death to his drug addiction and mental health. “I’ve always hoped that one day he would somehow find a healthy path and eventually find the help he so desperately needs. Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss, but the truth is, addiction and mental illness are the real villains here,” he said. “Now you’ll finally find the peace you didn’t have on earth.”
The brothers had some public fights. In 2019, Aaron Carter said on social media that both Nick Carter and his sister Leslie Carter had abused him. Leslie Carter died ten years ago.
“My sister raped me when she was 1013 when she wasn’t on her medication and I was abused not only by her but also by the first two people on my dance team when I was eight. And my brother abused me . me all my life,” Aaron Carter said in a tweet, ultimately referring to his brother.
At the time, Aaron Carter said he had spent the last 15 years of his life in therapy treating trauma from abuse and rape. He suffered from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
At the same time, TMZ reported Nick Carter issued a restraining order against Aaron Carter after Carter threatened his pregnant wife, Lauren Kitt. Aaron Carter denied the allegations.
“Leave me alone. For the rest of my life. I beg you please I haven’t seen you, and Nick, you’ve bullied me my whole life. And tortured me as a child. And everyone knows it . That was provided and now you’re afraid of the truth,” he said, sharing video of a scene from the family documentary House of Carters in which Nick Carter shoves him multiple times.
Despite the bereavement, it appears Nick Carter will remain on the Backstreet Boys’ current schedule. The group have a show scheduled for this Sunday at The O2 in London as part of their European tour. The showhouse kept up the announcement of the performance this Sunday, as did the group’s social networks not mention any cancellations.