Hilary Duff is coming clean with her thoughts.
Following fellow Disney alum and ex-boyfriend Aaron Carter's death, the Lizzie McGuire alum slammed his book publisher Ballast Books for announcing its plans to release his unfinished memoir.
"It's really sad that within a week of Aaron's death", she said in a statement obtained by E! News, "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 continued, "To water down Aaron's life story to what seems to be unverified click-bait for profit is disgusting. In no way do I condone shedding any light on what is so obviously an uninformed, heartless, money grab."
The tell-all book, titled Aaron Carter: An Incomplete Story of an Incomplete Life, was written by Andy Symonds after he spent three years interviewing Aaron, who died at age 34 on Nov. 5. Now, it is set to be released on Nov. 15.
Aaron's management team also released a statement on Nov. 10 condemning the book, saying they would like to "thank Hilary Duff for her statement" as well. "In the few short days following our dear friend's passing we have been trying to grieve and process while simultaneously having to deal with obscenely disrespectful and unauthorized releases," the management team said. "This is a time for mourning and reflection not heartless money grabs and attention seeking."
They asked for removal of unauthorized content and requested nothing else be released "without approval from his family, friends, and associates."
In response, Ballast Books' Andy addressed the criticism in a statement to E! News on Nov. 11.
"Aaron Carter hired me to help him tell the world his story," his message began. "That story, while tragically cut short, was filled with good and bad. His life was far from pretty, and understandably certain people in the public eye don't want some of the stories Aaron tells in his book to come to light. That doesn't make them any less true or newsworthy. Aaron had a right—as we all do—to tell his story. As a journalist, I am honored that he chose me to help him do that. In addition to being cathartic for him, Aaron hoped this book would help others struggling with addiction and mental illness. I hope and believe it will do that."
The "I Want Candy" singer—brother of the Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter—was found dead in his bathtub in his Lancaster, Calif. home. His cause of death is pending toxicology reports.
He left behind a son, Prince, 12 months, whom he shared with his ex-fiancée Melanie Martin.
When Aaron died, Hilary posted a tribute that remembered her former boyfriend fondly.
"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," Hilary, 35, wrote on Instagram On Nov. 5. "You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent...boy did my teenage self love you deeply. Sending love to your family at this time. Rest easy."
This article was first published on Nov. 10, 2022, at 3:46 p.m. PT and updated at 4:33 p.m. PT with a statement from the management team.