The publication of Aaron Carter’s incomplete memoir has been delayed. Originally intended to publish on November 15, less than two weeks after the star’s death, Ballast Books has decided to postpone “out of respect for the Carter family.â€
The statement obtained by Billboard alluded to questions of the memoir’s validity raised by Aaron’s ex-girlfriend Hilary Duff. “Public attention has recently focused on a small number of interactions during Mr. Carter’s early years,†it read. “The more important story is about Mr. Carter’s life and what people can learn from his professional success, personal struggles and tragic passing.â€
Carter was reportedly working on the book, now titled Aaron Carter: An Incomplete Story of an Incomplete Life, with author Andy Symonds before his death last Saturday. It will reportedly contain notes in the manuscript from Symonds and the publisher that show the direction that the book was headed in. The memoir shall detail Carter’s life, his relationship with his brother Nick Carter, and his struggles with mental health and substance abuse.
Aaron Carter’s management team issued a statement in support of Hilary Duff after she denied claims that she and Aaron Carter lost their virginities to each other in the late star’s posthumous memoir. “We as Aaron’s management would like to thank Hilary Duff for her statement regarding the book that is set to be released,†Taylor Helgeson, of Big Umbrella Management, said in a statement to the New York Post. Helgeson calls the memoir — and other new releases, including the album Blacklisted and a single “Lately†— “obscenely disrespectful and unauthorized.†“This is a time for mourning and reflection, not heartless money grabs and attention seeking,†the statement ends. “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.â€
An excerpt of the unfinished memoir published by the New York Post claimed that Duff and Carter lost their virginities to each other when they were 12 and 13. Duff told the Daily Mail that the claims in the book are untrue and called it a “money grab.†“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,†she said. Duff also stated that the book was “unverified click-bait for profit.†“In no way do I condone shedding any light on what is so obviously an uninformed, heartless, money grab,†concluded Duff. Vulture has reached out to Symonds for comment.
This post has been updated throughout.