Soleil Moon Frye on Capturing Angel and Nick Carter’s Family Tragedy

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As a devoted movie enthusiast, I had the pleasure of knowing Aaron Carter back in his teenage years. He was an absolute radiant, energetic, joyful, and stunning spark that illuminated any room he entered.

When she met Angel Carter Conrad, Aaron’s twin, a few years ago, they connected quickly.

I was deeply moved by the woman I met who had tragically lost three siblings and her father. From our very first encounter, she displayed an extraordinary level of courage, strength, grace, love, and kindness that left me breathless. I felt compelled to offer her a safe platform to share her powerful story. When I shared my idea for a documentary centered around mental health awareness and addiction, using Angel’s journey as the core narrative, the team agreed and I eagerly accepted the challenge.

In the forthcoming documentary on Paramount+ titled “The Carters: Hurts to Love You,” she delves deeply into their family story. The Carter family today comprises Angel and her elder brother Nick Carter. Sadly, their siblings Leslie Carter, Bobbie Jean, and Aaron passed away between 2012 and 2023 due to drug-related complications. Their father, Robert Carter, also died in 2017 from a heart attack.

The documentary unveils old family videos depicting the mistreatment suffered by the Carter children. However, their mother, Jane Carter, refused to participate in the interview process for this documentary.

Frye noted that he reached out to her but didn’t get a response, and what hit him hard was the immense affection Angel held for her parents. He explained that Angel truly grasped and appreciated their efforts with the limited resources they had. What moved Frye deeply was Angel’s determination to break free from this generational cycle of trauma. He believes many of us carry past family traumas, but Angel wanted to end this cycle for her child, Aaron’s son, and Nick’s children. What resonated with him was how strongly Angel wished to shield her parents.

Frye spent countless hours viewing old recordings, and as she delved into narrating Angel’s tale, she found herself resonating with parts of it that mirrored her own life. “It seemed like I was witnessing a narrative shared by many,” she admits. “This is a story that transcends boundaries and needs to be told through their perspective because we are grappling with a crisis on mental health and addiction issues on a global scale. In my view, there has never been a more opportune moment to unveil this narrative. I wanted to portray both the anguish and the love that were present.

In my movie-loving journey, I hadn’t crossed paths with Nick until we were working on the documentary. My companion and I headed to Chicago, where I seized the opportunity to drop by during his rehearsals. To my surprise, instead of a formal interview, our chance encounters yielded two spontaneous chats during that trip.

Upon entering the room, they settled down and began conversing freely with each other. All I had for recording purposes was my iPhone, which I utilized to capture the moment. Initially, this encounter wasn’t intended as an interview; instead, it turned out to be a heartfelt sharing of their childhood memories. As the conversation progressed, it became evident to me that this was the first time he had opened up about the passing of his brother. The next day, they reunited for a deeply moving discussion, giving me permission to record it. Throughout, Angel’s story was at the forefront, with Nick being an integral part of her journey.

The documentary fails to mention any of the sexual assault accusations levied against Nick, which he has consistently denied.

Frye explains that the movie he intended to create is narrated through Angel’s perspective, focusing on her experiences and truth. The sudden rise to fame and wealth was more overwhelming than they anticipated, and the narrative explores the challenges they encountered as things started to fall apart.

He further notes that Angel was particularly concerned about mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of recognizing early signs. It’s not exclusive to famous individuals; many young people struggle with similar pressures and anxieties. Therefore, he believes it’s crucial to have open discussions about these topics and continue doing so.

She goes on to explain, “Angel aims to make clear that the signs of trouble for the children surfaced much earlier than many realized. Why wasn’t this noticed sooner? Why didn’t anyone extend a helping hand? For Angel, it all boils down to the money. This is a narrative she wishes to share. When you’re young and renowned, people idolize you – they fail to see your struggles. That’s the message she wants to convey, that’s her primary concern.

James Goldston, Steven Baker, Cynthia Childs, Soleil Moon Frye, Susan Zirinsky, and Terence Wrong serve as executive producers for the show titled ‘The Carters: Hurts to Love You’. Meanwhile, Aysu Saliba and Cara Tortora take on supervising producer roles.

The two-part documentary premieres on Tuesday, April 15 on Paramount+.

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2025-04-14 19:17