In the first statement released since his death Saturday at age 34, Aaron Carter‘s management team is decrying “obscenely disrespectful and unauthorized releases” planned from the late star, including an album, single and book.
The statement, sent from Taylor Helgeson of Big Umbrella Management, thanked Carter’s ex-girlfriend Hilary Duff for speaking out against a posthumous book release, titled Aaron Carter: An Incomplete Story of an Incomplete Life. An excerpt from the memoir published by Page Six claims that the stars lost their virginity to each other, and Duff is taking issue with the lack of fact checking for the project. “It’s really sad that within a week of Aaron’s death, there’s a publisher that seems to be recklessly pushing a book out to capitalize on this tragedy without taking appropriate time or care to fact check the validity of his work,” Duff said in a statement provided to Billboard.
In the statement from Carter’s management team, they thank Duff for her response to the book, which they say is “unauthorized,” along with a single and album release.
“In the few short days following our dear friend’s passing we have been trying to grieve and process while simultaneously having to deal with obscenely disrespectful and unauthorized releases including an album, a single and now it seems a book,” the statement reads. “This is a time for mourning and reflection not heartless money grabs and attention seeking. We would ask the parties responsible to remove the aforementioned content and that no further content be released without approval from his family, friends, and associates.”
The book’s author, Ballast Books’ Andy Symonds, tells Billboard in a statement that Carter chose him to write about the singer’s life. “Aaron Carter hired me to help him tell the world his story,” Symonds says. “That story, while tragically cut short, was filled with good and bad. His life was far from pretty, and understandably certain people in the public eye don’t want some of the stories Aaron tells in his book to come to light. That doesn’t make them any less true or newsworthy. Aaron had a right — as we all do — to tell his story. As a journalist, I am honored that he chose me to help him do that. In addition to being cathartic for him, Aaron hoped this book would help others struggling with addiction and mental illness. I hope and believe it will do that.”
As for music, an independent album called Blacklisted was released on Sunday, the day after Carter’s death, by producers Morgan Matthews and John Wyatt Johnson. “We decided to release Blacklisted tomorrow to honor him and share his exceptional artistry with his fans around the world as we all mourn his loss,” the producers said in a statement on the day of Carter’s death.
Carter was found dead Saturday at age 34. No cause of death has been announced for the pop star, TV personality and brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter.
Also in their statement, the Big Umbrella team thanks fans for their “overwhelming support and kind words during this difficult time,” adding: “We love you Aaron, you are so deeply missed.”
Read the full statement from Carter’s management below:
We as Aaron’s Management are grieving deeply for the loss of our dear friend and colleague Aaron, the silence is deafening and our world is different without you here. We would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming support and kind words During this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and beautiful son Prince. We love you Aaron, you are so deeply missed.
We would also like to thank Hillary Duff for her statement regarding the Book that is set to be released. In the few short days following our dear friends passing we have been trying to grieve and process while simultaneously having to deal with obscenely disrespectful and unauthorized releases including an album, a single and now it seems a book.
This is a time for mourning and reflection not heartless money grabs and attention seeking. We would ask the parties responsible to remove the aforementioned content and that no further content be released without approval from his family, friends, and associates.
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