Hilary Duff Wears Vintage Aaron Carter T-Shirt as Fans Get Emotional Over Tribute to Her Late Ex

Hilary Duff's Lucky Me World Tour has already delivered plenty of nostalgic moments, but her show on last weekend in Philadelphia, US, carried a particularly emotional one. The singer is currently touring in support of her latest album, Luck... or Something, marking her first global headline tour in almost two decades.

During the Philadelphia stop, Duff surprised fans by bringing a piece of her past to the stage — literally. The 38-year-old wore a vintage T-shirt featuring her late ex-boyfriend Aaron Carter, instantly sending longtime fans back to the early 2000s.

Hilary Duff Pays Tribute to Late Ex Aaron Carter

Duff's white T-shirt featured a young Carter wearing denim overalls during the early days of his pop career. Fans who spotted the outfit quickly took to social media to share their emotional reactions.

'AARON. CARTER. COMING. HERE!!!' one fan wrote, calling the moment 'so iconic' and 'very sweet' of Duff. Another fan commented: 'Hilary is wearing an Aaron Carter shirt tonight and I'm NOT okay.'

A third fan thanked Duff, writing: 'Aaron Carter was my first crush growing up. Ty Hilary for not forgetting who he was.' One parent also shared that their daughter witnessed the moment from the audience, saying she was thrilled to see Duff honouring Carter.

For fans who grew up with Duff and Carter, the simple wardrobe choice became an unexpectedly touching throwback.

Inside Their Teenage Romance

Duff and Carter's relationship began when they were teenagers. The pair reportedly met in 2000 and started dating when they were both 13, with their on-and-off romance lasting around three years.

Their connection also crossed over into Duff's Disney Channel career. Carter guest-starred on Lizzie McGuire in the 2001 episode 'Here Comes Aaron Carter,' where the young stars famously shared a kiss on screen.

Their teenage romance later became part of a much-publicised love triangle involving Lindsay Lohan. Although Duff and Carter eventually went their separate ways, their relationship remained a memorable part of both stars' early careers.

Carter died on 5 November 2022 at age 34. He was found submerged in a bathtub at his home in Lancaster, California. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accidental drowning, with the effects of difluoroethane and alprazolam contributing to his death.

After his death, Duff shared an emotional tribute to her former boyfriend, remembering the young person she had known and expressing sadness over the struggles he faced.

Duff Reunites With Another Ex

The Aaron Carter tribute comes just days after Duff made headlines for another blast from her romantic past.

At her Madison Square Garden show in New York earlier this month, Duff reunited with former boyfriend Joel Madden, nearly 20 years after their 2006 split. She brought Madden and his twin brother, Benji, on stage, where they performed Good Charlotte's The Anthem together.

Duff and Madden dated from 2004 to 2006, when she was a teenager and he was a member of Good Charlotte. Their surprise reunion was another major nostalgia moment during Duff's comeback tour.

Hilary Duff's Lucky Me Tour Continues

Duff's Lucky Me World Tour is continuing through 2026 and into February 2027, with shows planned across multiple countries. The tour began in June and is supporting her first album in a decade, Luck... or Something.

With Duff revisiting different chapters of her life throughout the tour, the Philadelphia tribute to Carter offered one of its most poignant moments yet. Her vintage T-shirt was only a small part of the show, but for fans who remember the pair from their teenage years, it carried a lot of meaning.

And judging by the emotional reactions online, plenty of people weren't quite ready for that early-2000s nostalgia to hit them quite so hard.

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