The year was 2001. Britney Spears was dating Justin Timberlake and the first season of Lizzie McGuire was airing on the Disney Channel. All was right with the world. It’s a time Aaron Carter wishes he could relive.
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the pop star, now 26, posted a photo of himself rewatching the special holiday episode of Lizzie McGuire in which he guest starred.
“Merry Christmas Lizzie McGuire. #IWantCandy #AaronCarter #Flashback,” he captioned the photo on Instagram.
The episode “Aaron Carter’s Coming to Town” originally aired in March 2001 and featured Lizzie (played by Hilary Duff) sneaking past guards to meet Carter and ultimately star in his “I Want Candy” music video.
At the time, Carter and Duff were in a real-life relationship. They dated on and off for two years before the Disney star ended things in 2003 after reports surfaced that Carter cheated on her with rival actress Lindsay Lohan.
Since then the two have gone their separate ways, with Duff, 27, marrying hockey player Mike Comrie in August 2010. But when she announced her separation from her husband this past January, Carter publicly spoke about his desire to reconnect with his former flame.
In March he tweeted, “don’t be that stupid douche that loses the love of your life forever.. Like me… I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to better myself to get back to her. I don’t care what ANY of you think.”
He went on to make several other declarations of love for his ex, who doesn’t appear to share the sentiment.
In October, Bravo host Andy Cohen questioned Duff about Carter, to which she replied, “Ugh! I don’t know. I don’t know what to say about it! It was so many years ago. I literally haven’t seen him in… so, it’s uncomfortable.”
They may not be suited for each other now, but watch this epic “I Want Candy” music video and go back, back to the beginning!