Actor-singer Aaron Carter, who briefly enjoyed fame as a teen sensation in the 2000s, tragically passed away at his home in Southern California at the age of 34.
A suspicious death was reported at Carter’s home in the 42000 block of Valley Vista Drive at 10:58 a.m., according to Alejandra Parra, a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Parra claimed that “a deceased person” was discovered at the residence, albeit the identity was still unknown. According to Variety, investigators currently remain on site, while reports confirm that Carter was found dead in his bathtub.
Carter’s Career
As the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, Aaron was propelled to the forefront of the teen-pop-idol scene, opening for the Backstreet Boys tour in 1997. The same year, he would hit gold status with his debut album Aaron Carter, which was followed by a triple-platinum release called Aaron’s Party in 2000. This era also produced his most popular music, including the album’s title track, and hit single I Want Candy.
By the mid-2000s, Aaron Carter had become a mainstay in the entertainment circuit, appearing on TV shows such as Lizzie McGuire, reality show House of Carters, and even making a Broadway debut with 2001’s. During this time, he also made tabloid headlines for dating high-profile celebrities, including Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan.
By the 2010s, however, things weren’t looking so positive for Carter. While he managed to avoid a debt crisis in 2013, the entertainer had his name linked to a small number of DUI charges, and eventually drew criticism for a bevy of drug-related charges and his skinny, gaunt appearance — a state reached after developing a dependency on ‘benzodiazepines with opiates’, which he said he took for anxiety and sleep. Early in this period, he would also see his elder sister Leslie die from a drug overdose — one of many people within his family he had accused of abuse and mistreatment.
Carter admitted himself to Alo House, a treatment center in Malibu, California. While his condition improved, he would face further personal setbacks in 2021 — losing child custody of his 10-month-old son with then-fiancée Melanie Martin. As a result, Carter would check into rehab once again for his drug addiction this September, only to pass away a couple of months later.
Fans spoke up about Carter’s career and shared fond memories from his glory days:
Speaking to TMZ, Martin said, “My fiancé Aaron Carter has passed away. I love Aaron with all my heart and it’s going to be a journey to raise a son without a father. Please respect the privacy of my family as we come to terms with the loss of someone we love greatly. We are still in the process of accepting this unfortunate reality. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.”
Lead Image: @aaroncarter
