Angel Carter Conrad is speaking out for the first time since her sister Bobbie Jean Carter died on December 23 at the age of 41.
On Sunday morning, Conrad, 36, shared an emotional tribute to her older sister, who she described as her “best friend” during their childhood.
“To my big sister Bobbie. You had a great sense of humor and a lively spirit. Growing up, I was your baby and you were my best friend,” Conrad’s message posted on Instagram alongside a photo montage of Bobbie Jean began when she was younger.
“Life hasn’t been fair to you, I know that. Sometimes it feels like you never had a chance, no matter what,” she continued.
Conrad then mentioned the struggles she and her siblings, including her twin brother Aaron Carter, who died in 2022, and sister Leslie, who died in 2012, experienced growing up.
“To experience innocence instead of being burdened with trauma, pain and suffering is incredibly important for children, especially at such a young age. I know why Leslie, Aaron and now you ended up in the circumstances you did. I share that pain we experienced as children and I’m sorry you didn’t have a chance for a better life,” she wrote.
“We all need to break down barriers, reduce stigma and foster a society where seeking mental health support is met with understanding and encouragement,” Conrad continued. “This starts with our children and creating a healthy conversation within the home,” she added, before urging her followers to focus on children’s mental health and seek support.
“The generational dysfunction is ending now. Visit @onoursleevesofficial to learn more about how you can get involved and be there for your loved ones,” she added.
Conrad then concluded his tribute with a message of love to his late sister. “I love you BJ, you are free now. 💔🕊️,” she said.
TMZ first broke the news of Bobbie Jean’s death Saturday via a statement from her mother, Jane Carter.
Aaron Carter’s twin sister Angel opens up about her addiction: ‘My brother deserves to be here’ (Exclusive)
“I am in shock to learn of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and it will take time for me to grasp the horrible reality of what is happening for the third time. When I can think clearly, I will release a fuller statement; but until then, I would like to leave me alone to grieve,” Jane told the news outlet.
Sources close to the Carters told PEOPLE that the family believes Bobbie Jean died after going into cardiac arrest, though further details about what led to her death remain unclear.
Bobbie Jean is survived by her daughter Bella, parents and siblings.
Bobbie Jean Carter 2006
Kristy Leibowitz/Getty
Angel Carter talks about breaking ‘generational dysfunction’ with mental health after twin brother Aaron’s death
Bobbie Jean is the third Conrad sibling to die since 2012.
Her sister Leslie died in January 2012 of a drug overdose at the age of 25. Her twin brother Aaron, meanwhile, died in November 2022 of accidental drowning in a bathtub after taking Xanax and inhaling compressed air, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. He was 34 years old.
In August, Conrad spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about losing her sibling. “Addiction is a major problem in my family,” she said. “And not only is there a biological basis for it, there’s also a genetic component.”
According to Conrad, while Aaron and her older brother, Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter, rose to fame in the pop music world in the ’90s, she and her sisters faced a difficult family life amid her parents Jane and Bob Carter’s struggles with addiction.
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“Losing a twin, it’s an out-of-body experience. He’s a part of me. And it was like when he died, I was like, ‘I have to bring him into my house. I have to bring him home and protect him,'” Conrad told PEOPLE about Aaron’s death. She kept his ashes and said she plans to bury them at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills.
She said one of the reasons she was able to avoid similar problems to her siblings is that she was the only one of the Carter siblings to accept Nick’s offer to pay for therapy after the family filmed their E! reality series House of Carters in Los Angeles in 2006. “I had to break the cycle,” she said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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Source: HIS Education