Nick Carter was visibly overtaken with sorrow as his Backstreet Boys teammates interrupted their show on Sunday evening to pay respect to his younger brother Aaron Carter, barely a day after Aaron’s untimely death was reported.
The band, consisting of Nick, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, AJ McLean, and Brian Littrell, took the stage at The O2 venue in London for their DNA World Tour despite their defeat.
A collage of photographs from the late singer’s life appeared on the screen above the stage while they played “No Place.” Following the conclusion of the song, Richardson gathered his bandmates and addressed the audience.
“That was the most recent and last single off the ‘DNA’ album, and it’s a very significant song to us since it’s about family,” he explained. “Everyone in this room has gone through highs and lows, ups and downs, together.”
—Lucy Jones (@thisislucy), via Twitter
November 6, 2022
Richardson thanked the crowd for being a part of the Backstreet family for 29 years before stating, “Tonight we have a little bit of a heavy heart because one of our family members passed away yesterday.”
“We just wanted to take a moment during our show to acknowledge that Nick’s younger brother Aaron Carter passed away yesterday at the age of 34. He was a member of our family, and we appreciate all of your love, well wishes, and support,” he continued.
In footage captured by audience members, Nick can be seen holding back tears during the speech. McLean, Littrell, and Dorough approached him and gave him a hug while he wiped his eyes with his palm.
Nick, age 42, posted a tribute to his brother’s memory on Instagram earlier in the day, stating that his “love for him has never ever waned” despite their challenges and disagreements.
Alongside a sequence of images of the two of them throughout the years, Nick wrote, “My heart has been torn tonight. Despite our tumultuous relationship, my love for him has never diminished.”
His post added, “I have always hung onto the dream that he might one day desire to travel a healthy road and seek the much needed assistance.”
A tweet from Nick Carter (@nickcarter).
His message concluded, “Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss, but the truth is that addiction and mental illness are the actual villains here. I will miss my brother more than anyone could ever imagine.” “I love you Chizz, and now you have the opportunity to find tranquility you could never find on earth….God, please take care of my little brother.”
In 2019, the Backstreet Boys member announced on social media that he has sought a restraining order against his brother Aaron due to his “increasingly frightening behavior.”
Aaron disclosed in an interview that he had been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, and acute anxiety the same year.
On Saturday, TMZ initially reported Aaron’s death, citing various anonymous law enforcement officials. His body was reportedly discovered in his bathtub, and sources told the site that authorities got a 911 call around 11 a.m.
A representative of Aaron’s management organization also confirmed the singer’s death to Insider.