Angel Carter reveals the years of heartache she endured watching her brother struggle with addiction and the devastating consequences of his untimely passing.
- Jun 27, 2024
AceShowbiz - Aaron Carter, the former child star known for hits like "Crazy Little Party Girl" and "I Want Candy", passed away in November 2022 after an accidental fall in his bathtub while under the influence of several substances. Tragically, his twin sister Angel Carter revealed that his death did not shock her as much as their older sister Leslie's overdose in 2012. Speaking on the "Squeeze" podcast, hosted by Taylor Lautner and Tay Lautner, Angel candidly shared her long-held fears and struggles with her brother's addiction.
"What's so interesting about Leslie's passing - she passed away when I was 23 - her death completely blindsided me," Angel recounted. "When she died, I was already in therapy preparing for Aaron's death. I thought he was going to die. I feared it my entire 20s. I knew this day was going to come and I think he knew it too."
Angel devoted many years trying to support Aaron, but his addiction often caused him to push away her help. According to Angel, the situation worsened around 2019 when Aaron, who was diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia disorders, began to experience psychotic episodes. During one such episode, Aaron confessed to having thoughts of harming infants and started accumulating an alarming number of firearms. This disturbing behavior led Angel and their older brother Nick Carter to seek a restraining order against Aaron, resulting in the confiscation of his guns. Tearfully, Angel admitted, "I had to protect him from himself."
Angel attributed Aaron's downfall to the exploitation and manipulation he faced from a young age. Beginning his career at just nine years old, Aaron was exposed to a world that would ultimately contribute to his struggles with addiction. She revealed, "I couldn't save him. It wasn't my responsibility to save him but I tried."
Furthermore, Aaron's success and role as the "breadwinner" of the family added immense pressure. He internalized the blame for their parents' 2003 divorce, believing it was his success that tore the family apart. "He thought that the success destroyed the family," Angel explained.
Despite battling addiction from a young age, starting with marijuana and escalating to harder substances like ecstasy and huffing duster cans at just 12 years old, Aaron's struggle continued into his adulthood. Angel mentioned that it was only "years later" that she discovered the extent of Aaron's engagement with drugs.
Before his untimely death at 34, Aaron had been trying to regain custody of his son and had undergone multiple stints in rehab. His passing marks a heartbreaking end to a life plagued by addiction and mental health struggles, reflecting the often unseen battles many young stars face.
