Hilary Duff paid tribute to her late childhood boyfriend Aaron Carter during her Philadelphia concert Sunday night. The singer and actress, 38, was photographed wearing a vintage-style white T-shirt featuring a young Carter as she performed on her Lucky Me tour.
A Quiet Tribute on Stage
Fans captured images of Duff wearing the shirt during the Aug. 9 show, bringing back memories of a relationship that became part of early-2000s pop culture. Duff and Carter dated between 2001 and 2004, when both were among the most recognizable young stars of their generation.
Carter, who was 34, died on Nov. 5, 2022. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later determined that his death was accidental, concluding that he drowned after inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam.
Their Connection Goes Back Decades
Carter also appeared alongside Duff in a 2001 episode of Lizzie McGuire, further linking the two stars during the height of their teenage fame. Their relationship eventually ended, but Duff has continued to speak about Carter with affection and sympathy.
Following his death, Duff shared an emotional message remembering the singer and acknowledging the struggles he faced publicly. She described him as having an “effervescent” charm and reflected on how deeply her teenage self had cared for him.
Duff Recently Shared Another Personal Story
Duff also spoke about Carter during an April appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast. She recalled an experience involving a psychic who, according to Duff, told her that someone named Aaron would appear in her life.
Duff said she immediately wondered whether the person being referenced was Carter. She also revealed that she remains close with Angel Carter, Aaron’s sister, whose children attend the same school as Duff’s children.
A Memory That Has Lasted
Duff’s tribute comes more than three years after Carter’s death, showing that the connection formed during their teenage years remains meaningful to her. She has since built a family life with husband Matthew Koma, whom she married in 2019, but has continued to remember Carter publicly.
The moment in Philadelphia was simple but personal: rather than making a lengthy statement, Duff wore an image of Carter on stage. For fans who remember the pair from the early 2000s, the gesture offered a nostalgic reminder of a relationship that began when both stars were still teenagers.
