What Aaron Carter's Relationship With Melanie Martin Was Really Like
This article includes discussions of addiction, suicide, and domestic violence.
Singer Aaron Carter found fame as a teen sensation in the 2000s and sold three million copies of his album "Aaron's Party" as a teenager, per The New York Times. As much as his fans have followed his career, they've also paid attention to his love life. In 2017, Carter came out as bisexual (via USA Today) and tweeted a confirmation of his sexuality in 2019. He shared on "The Hollywoodlife Podcast" in 2018, "I see myself being with a woman and having kids."
During his teen years, there were a number of famous women in Carter's life. He and Hilary Duff were an item in the early 2000s. The "Lizzie McGuire" star shared a tribute on Instagram after Carter's death in November 2022. "For Aaron- I'm deeply sorry that life was so hard for you and that you had to struggle in front of the whole world. You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent... boy did my teenage self love you deeply," she wrote. Carter also dated "Mean Girls" actor Lindsay Lohan, who sent condolences to his family when prompted by ET.
At the time of his death, Carter had an on-again-off-again relationship with model Melanie Martin, with whom he had a child. Theirs was a publicized affair that took fans on a rollercoaster of emotions. Here's what it was really like.
The couple went Instagram official in 2020
In January 2020, Aaron Carter introduced Melanie Martin to his hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers. In a since-deleted post, Carter wrote (according to People): "She loves me she loves me not, she woke me up from napping but I'm not complaining." That would be the first of many posts Carter would share about their relationship. Although some of their online pictures were archived, it wasn't uncommon to spot the couple celebrating birthdays, goofing around, or spending the holidays together. "I've never met a woman more invested into me than you my darling," Carter wrote of his love on Instagram in February 2020 (via People).
In addition to photos, Martin was a familiar face on Carter's YouTube channel and Instagram Live, through which he streamed his life and connected with his fans. Carter addressed various personal issues, including those appertaining to his love life. He also put those he worked with — like his stylist and collaborators — in the spotlight. It's clear that the star enjoyed producing and performing music live. Fans kept an eye on Carter, though, as they were concerned he was misusing drugs and called the police to check on him, per Radar.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Aaron Carter got himself a Melanie tattoo
As an expression of his love for Melanie Martin, Aaron Carter decided to get inked, and he did it in the grandest possible way. Two months after he'd introduced Martin to his audience, she revealed a tattoo of her name, placed right above the singer's right eyebrow. In the since-deleted video originally posted on her Instagram Story (via People), the pair happened to be dining at a Japanese restaurant.
Martin's first name, written in calligraphy, was very visible when Carter's hairstylist shared a picture of him on Instagram in March 2020. A couple months later, the pop star seemed to regret his decision. In an interview with the "Hollywood Raw" podcast, Carter told the hosts, "That says 'mistake,' that doesn't say Melanie."
He was, however, fond of face tattoos. In March 2022, he posted a photo of a blue butterfly design covering up the Melanie tattoo, dedicated to his late sister, Leslie Carter. "I always wanted to make her proud. Leslie I know your in paradise. I do feel you inside. The things you taught me and your favorite color being blue you were a Gemini and you were fearless," Carter's Instagram caption read, in part.
They were engaged in June 2020
In a June 2020 Instagram post, Aaron Carter shared a shot of his and Melanie Martin's hands, with the latter sporting an engagement ring. "Love wins," read his caption. This milestone came six months into their official social media debut.
The ring, according to Carter, was top-notch. He was searching for the very best and stopped at nothing. The star tested it himself during a livestream. "Highest-quality diamond in the world," Carter told his followers. Martin appeared to be in high spirits during the session, giving Carter much-needed assurance. "This is the only ring I'll ever wear," she said.
At the time of their engagement, Carter had never been married before. With all things wedding-related, he was clueless. Martin, on the other hand, wasn't a newbie in the engagement space. She had a short-lived marriage in her late teens, one which Carter knew about. "I know my fiancee's entire history," he disclosed in his livestream.
A history of domestic violence
The relationship between Aaron Carter and Melanie Martin was tumultuous. So much so that there were claims of domestic violence on both sides. Martin had allegedly caused harm to a pet. "Melanie came back four times after we broke up harrsssing [sic] me and came back with peanut tell me sometime during the day SHE had broken her dogs leg," Carter tweeted in March 2020.
He took to a live-streaming session to address the incident, calling Martin his "ex-girlfriend" and letting his fans know she had been apprehended (which ET also confirmed). The purported assault, unfortunately, allegedly involved Carter. "She choked my trachea out. She ripped my arms open, she ripped my back open, and she punched me where I got my tooth pulled out my mouth," Carter claimed. The damage to his trachea was apparently harsh, in a way that he had difficulty in speech. "Yeah, men can be victims, too," he opined. Martin eventually got out of jail and the couple rekindled their love.
Unfortunately, troubles continued. Martin alleged that when she and Carter fought in February 2022, the singer broke three of her her ribs. Per The Blast, Carter and Martin filed restraining orders against each other. Carter was seen running after Martin in a since-deleted Instagram post (via The Blast), telling her, "You've been served."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Melanie Martin had a miscarriage
Aaron Carter spoke with People in April 2020 to share his excitement about becoming a father: "This is what we both want. ... I'm just focused on the future and being a dad. I want to be a good dad," he said. Carter continued, "I'm focused, my music career has been doing really well, and touring, having my clothing line out, all that stuff I have going for me that isn't necessarily just music. Family is most important to me."
During a livestream posted to Aaron Carter's YouTube channel that June, one observant fan noted that Carter was indulging in cigarettes around Melanie Martin, who was possibly hoping to become pregnant around that time. "Smoking near a pregnant woman," the fan wrote. The comment was instantly shut down by Carter, who was wearing an orange hoodie.
"She had a miscarriage," Carter stated, prompting Martin to chime in. "It's just, people don't know what's going on. Just don't ask, please. I don't wanna hear about it anymore," she remarked. Carter made it known that Martin would need time to process the loss, and when she'd found healing, they would give it a second go. At the time of the session, however, Martin pointed out that they had three fur babies who were well taken care of. "Like she said, when the time is right, we will try again," Carter said.
They separated periodically
Of breakups and makeups, Aaron Carter and Melanie Martin had their fair share. Carter made announcements of their separation more than once, only to reveal that they were back together again. One such breakup came a week after the birth of their son, Prince, in November 2021. Through a tweet, Carter wrote, "Due to personal reason [sic] Melanie Martin and I have decided to go our separate ways." He alluded to deceit on Martin's part, writing, "There has been a very big lie and my sister communicating w my ex fiancé ruined everything considering she knew what angel tried to do to me in court..." Carter was likely referring to his sister Angel's domestic violence restraining order against him, per ET.
Troubles continued with Carter and Martin's domestic violence allegations against each other. In a series of tweets, Carter wrote in February 2022, "I'm too scarred and I can't trust any woman."
Not that the couple hadn't tried to patch things up earlier in their relationship. In a 2020 live-streaming session, Carter said they would attend couples therapy. "I'm hiring two counselors, one that's a female and one that's a male to have an unbiased opinion," he disclosed. In May 2022, The Blast reported that the duo again spoke of couples therapy. "To me, family is like a beautiful glass ball that's super fragile in our hands and if it's dropped those pieces cannot be put back together without hard work and growing and learning and dedication and true love and I know how deeply I love Aaron and I will make this right," Martin said.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Aaron Carter and Melanie Martin became parents
Years before he became a dad, Aaron Carter had predicted the kind of father he would be. This was in 2018, two years before he publicly announced he was dating Melanie Martin. "I want lots of kids, lots of stability, lots of happiness and laughter and learning and having fun. It's going to be good," he said in an interview with People. Of his children's gender, Carter was hoping to have daughters, a choice influenced by how he grew up.
In November 2021, Martin gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Through his Instagram account, Carter shared the good news with his fans. "Prince is precious I love you son. Your mommy loves you as I drop tears on the phone," wrote Carter, accompanying his sentiments with a picture of himself holding a pair of surgical scissors. "This is me cutting his umbilical cord..." he noted. The singer further expressed his love for Martin, signing off with a bunch of sweet emojis.
A custody battle ensued
In late 2021, Aaron Carter and Melanie Martin happily shared their life as parents with Us Weekly. However, they continued to face challenges in their relationship. Courtroom wars between Aaron Carter and Melanie Martin weren't limited to each other. The couple's only child, Prince, also got caught in the murky affair. According to The Blast, Carter sought legal action in February 2022 when he had a row with Martin, and in his filing, mentioned that their minor was at risk.
According to Carter's court documents (as obtained by The Blast), Martin was allegedly "Disprsing (sic) medication down the toilet, public online slander, emotionally abusing me by threatening to kill herself which cause me to worry for the safety of our child." Carter caught up with TMZ in September and confirmed that neither he nor Martin had won the case. "The temporary custody is with Melanie's mother because she lost temporary custody... Yeah, I lost it first," he told the publication.
According to Carter, he was denied custody for being a gun owner. Asked whether he was willing to do away with firearms for the sake of fatherhood, his answer was swift and to the point: "I'd give up anything."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
He was to sue Melanie Martin for defamation
When TMZ caught up with Aaron Carter in September 2022, he was in an outpatient program and claimed he had been sober for nearly five years. Carter's struggle with substance misuse has been well-documented through the years. At the time of his short chat with the publication, he revealed that there were other things going on, amongst them a conflict with Melanie Martin.
Carter let the law intervene after Martin paid him an impromptu visit. "She wouldn't leave. She was, you know, trying to trigger me," he said, adding, "There was a picture of Melanie walking out of the house, but what she would do is come break through, break into the back window... I personally feel like a deserve a better girl." Their court wars, he remarked, would be just like the Johnny Depp, Amber Heard case. The "Go Jimmy Jimmy" singer had intentions of suing Martin for defamation of character.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Aaron Carter was ready for a new chapter
In November 2022, TMZ reported that Aaron Carter had died. The "Fool's Gold" actor drowned in a bathtub in his California home. The outlet later made public the status of Carter's estate, revealing that he had died without a will.
Prior to his death, Carter was ready to start afresh. He put up his second home up for sale and shared through Twitter that he wanted to purchase a new place. "Real estate has been super good to me. Ready for a new chapter in my 3rd home which I plan on staying to make a beautiful life for my family," Carter tweeted. "This year has been super tough but I've learned so much."
According to TMZ, Carter's estate would be in the hands of the state of California, but his son Prince was likely to be its heir. Carter was barely liquid at the time of his death, but the sale of his home might ensure financial security.
Melanie Martin penned an emotional tribute to Aaron Carter
Following the news that Aaron Carter had died, Melanie Martin penned a long tribute to the singer through Instagram. "Aaron, I love you beyond measure. You are my soulmate," it read in part. In a statement to People, Martin noted that she was aware of the "Keep Believing" singer's struggles in life and said she did her best to be of assistance. Her focus, Martin shared, was on their son, Prince. "I will now be raising our son as a single mother and this is the worst day of my life, but I have to be strong for our son," Martin explained. A few days after Carter's death, the mom was pictured vacating the home she once shared with the singer, per Hollywood Life.
Despite the turbulent relationship she shared with Carter, Melanie Martin revealed that there were intentions to extend their family. "I was really looking forward to getting married and having more children with him," the 30-year-old model told Us Weekly. She added, "It happened so fast and I'm still in shock that I will never see his face again. Aaron was a wonderful man and he really loved to take care of his family."