Many people are still saddened about the sudden death of former teen idol Aaron Carter over the weekend. His album Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) was on heavy rotation at many of our childhood sleepovers, and many more have fond memories of seeing him in concert at the New York State Fair or opening for the Backstreet Boys (his brother Nick’s band) at Darien Lake or the Pepsi Arena in Albany. 

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More recently, though, Aaron Carter became more well-known for his eyebrow-raising social media posts and legal troubles. Nevertheless, it was still shocking when we heard the news that 34-year-old Aaron was found dead inside his Los Angeles home on Saturday.

Although a cause of death has not been officially determined, several incidents in recent years made us hope that Aaron would find the help he needed - including a concerning event that happened a few years ago in Upstate New York. 

Aaron Carter Bullied & Hospitalized In Syracuse, New York

In June of 2017, Carter made headlines after a series of tweets he posted after a performance in Syracuse. His tweets, which have since been deleted, alleged that a female fan was bullying him by saying hurtful comments about his weight. The incident was said to have taken place at the bar Sharkey’s in Liverpool.

“I’m entirely hurt by a so-called fan that I just encountered she wasn’t realizing I was listening, she said I look like I have cancer,” he wrote at the time. “A grown woman was gossiping about me when I have a eating disorder, telling people I need to eat 5 cheeseburgers cause I look like I’m dying. This is body shaming. You guys are bullying me. I’ve already addressed my medical issues.”

Later that evening, he posted a picture of himself in the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, which he later said was due to “exhaustion.”

The medical issue Carter was referring to in his tweets was a hiatal hernia. He revealed his diagnosis on social media a month before this incident, calling it “a terrible stress condition that affects me having an appetite."

Although Aaron’s behavior has been concerning in recent years, body shaming and its effect on a person’s mental health is no laughing matter. It’s incredibly sad that even after taking steps to protect his well-being, he still couldn’t find the peace he so desperately wanted and needed.

Rest In Peace, Aaron.

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