Nick Carter Misses Sister Leslie Carter's Funeral

The show must go on? Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has missed his own sister's funeral. The singer gave a concert in Philadelphia and hosted a party at an Atlantic City resort on Saturday night, the same evening that funeral proceedings were held for little sister Leslie Carter.

"I wanted to be at my sister's funeral, but my family has always had a complicated dynamic. I love my family. I want to thank everyone for all of their compassion and support that I have received during this most difficult time. There are so many emotions for me surrounding the loss of my sister. I am trying to stay healthy, positive and focused," Nick, 32, said in a statement to The Insider.

Separately, Carter told website TMZ that he had wanted to attend the funeral in New York (which was attended by brother Aaron), but that his family had not disclosed the details.

Leslie died suddenly on February 1 from a reported overdose of prescription drugs meant to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Stepmother Ginger Carter told the police that the 25-year-old Leslie had a "long history of mental illness" and that she had appeared depressed the morning that she died.

"Our family is grieving right now and it's a private matter," a spokeswoman for the family had said in a statement after news broke. "We are deeply saddened for the loss of our beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter, Leslie Carter. We request the utmost privacy during this time."

The troubled Leslie appeared on the family's reality show, "House of Carter," in 2006 and aspired to be a singer like her famous older brothers.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misidentified Carter as a "former" Backstreet Boys member; it has been updated to reflect that Carter is still part of the vocal group.

Check out photos of the Carter siblings below:

Comments

[LivelyLexie]

10:45 AM on 02/10/2012

This isn't really anyone's business. There was probably more to this than him not wanting to miss a performance and party.

[James Whittaker]

06:17 PM on 02/09/2012

What comes first- Money or Family ? Loser !

[glenc128]

05:35 PM on 02/09/2012

HOW LOW CAN SOMEONE BE.MY SISTERS FUNERAL.OR A CONCERT AND AN AFTER PARTY. WOW,CANT BELIEVE HE HAS FANS.

[Realitycher4u]

03:39 PM on 02/09/2012

People have all kinds of reasons for acting poorly! Doing a concert and then a party really shows how low some people are. There is no excuse for missing a sisters funeral that is except-able.

[mem60]

02:42 PM on 02/09/2012

I found out first hand that close family deaths can sometimes bring out the worst in people. Our emotions are heightened, we can be in shock and denial, which can cause a lot of past hurts to come bubbling up to the surface.

There is no "Funerals for Dummies" instructional manual in our world.

[LivelyLexie]

10:45 AM on 02/10/2012

Especially when it's a suicide... it's a lot to deal with.

[Fernando]

01:04 PM on 02/09/2012

The older I get the less I judge people for how they mourn. Every head is a Universe and we all deal with this differently.

[jammer0079]

05:48 PM on 02/09/2012

You my good sir have shown your superior intelligence with that comment. :)

[pumamommy]

11:43 AM on 02/09/2012

I'm wondering if anyone here is family of the Carters? So many have something to say about what he should have done or should not have done. It seems that some of you act like you KNOW him and his family personally. Bottom line, ANYONE CAN DO WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO, IT IS THEIR LIFE! Whether we agree or not, it is not anyone else to say what a person should or should not do. Nick did what was right for him. No one is free in this world, for some people think they know it all and what is best for everyone! He didn't attend a funeral! He didn't go see his sisters body in a coffin!! The end of the world is coming for us all now, huh?

What if he didn't attend his sisters wedding or there for his Nieces' birth? Oh my, we all need to log on and judge him if he isn't there for his nieces 1st birthday!! I'm sure everyone bashing Nick has NEVER missed a single thing in their families life, RIGHT?! Celebrities are JUST PEOPLE like you and me! My life is perfectly fine that Nick didn't attend a funeral. Too bad you judgemental people don't have your every move, words, and awkard photos all over aol, I'm sure people would have a lot to say about YOU and YOUR way of life. I bet you would be the first one to cry over people judging you!

[SupportingaretroopsUSA]

12:13 PM on 02/10/2012

Nooope Im not related to the Carters, and He CHOSE CHOSE CHOSE to put his buisness out there, he has a book, Is on talk shows, so me and every1 Is to blame for having a say?? His drinking, his problems, He CHOSE to put It out there, yet tell me when you talk to him why he missed his own sisters funeral, Sinse you see to be so cose to them,

[TdeyoMN]

10:15 AM on 02/09/2012

WHO goes to these concerts?! He sucks!

[zanedy]

09:37 AM on 02/09/2012

I feel bad for all the kids in this family. Yes, most of them seem to have some fame, and maybe a small amount of fortune, but they all seem to have paid for it emotionally. (Drug problems, suicides, rehabs, divorces, arrests etc) Seems like child star syndrom.

[Robert A Hayes]

10:27 PM on 02/08/2012

...can you ration away that sick feeling in your stomach though?

[Justgo4it]

10:03 PM on 02/08/2012

I'm with him on this. I myself hate funerals. I would want to remembered for me, who I am, not the shell laying in a box. Like I told my hubby I don't want a viewing, since thats no longer me, my spirit has moved on, all that's left is an empty shell. Plus Nicks family wasn't exactly the most wonderful part of his life, so why bother putting yourself into a place where you really don't want to be, and its not because of his sister, its the rest who still walk this earth . his sister, left a print on his heart, and she will be remembered, but in his way, and only his way.

[kash1952]

04:36 PM on 02/08/2012

He's sad but not TOO sad to go to a party the same evening........hmmm......he didn't know where it was at cuz the family didn't release the details..........hmmmmm.........what a sad commentary on the life of this kid and on the interaction with his family.

[Justgo4it]

09:46 PM on 02/08/2012

remember the saying you can pick your friends not your family, don't be so quick to judge, some families aren't exactly the nucleur family like most families should be. some are better off not being around period.

[Realitycher4u]

03:42 PM on 02/09/2012

If he does not like his family stay on the other side of the building but you don't do a concert then party on the day your sister is put in the ground.

[dkwhitehorn]

03:49 PM on 02/08/2012

The man will grieve when he is ready to. And get your facts straight... he is currently on a break from touring with the Backstreet Boys. Journalism FAIL! Not to mention the moral questionability of judging someone's grieving process. Shame on you!

[Justgo4it]

09:48 PM on 02/08/2012

fanned and glad to be your first fave , and you're right they have no right to question of judge on ones grieving process, as we all grieve in our own ways, some just don't show it.

[Stephen Stafford]

09:54 AM on 02/08/2012

WOW. It is not like the dead sister invented a new kind of death.

Anybody ever have a loved one perish? What happens? You call somebody and ask what day and time the funeral will be. Most often, someone calls me as soon as that info has been nailed down

He claims the family did not disclose the details. Anybody ever been in a family? When the sister dies, and the brother does not get word or the arrangements, there are two possibilities. Either he is not speaking to them, and they have no better sense than to keep this up during this family crisis, or..... He is not allowed to be around them, they do not want him around under any circumstances, he is banned, banished from kin folks, as in disowned.

"Healthy, positive and focused" are not the hallmarks of bereavement, nor should they be. Death is a loss to loved ones. It is not a loved one when the loss is not experienced and you miss not a beat in your quest to be "healthy, positive and focused".

I would not spend a nickel to further fund his contentment in any way, shape or form.

[nerak kneeling]

03:16 AM on 02/08/2012

he should have attended . the show must go on attitude is selfishness. pure and simple.