Hayden Panettiere’s mother Lesley Vogel has broken her silence on the star’s death to take aim at her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
Hickerson was reportedly at the scene when the Heroes and Nashville actor died aged 36 at a south Carolina apartment from a suspected “cardiac arrest” and “overdose” on Sunday afternoon.
Vogel, who was estranged from Panettiere, told NBC News on Tuesday: “This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.”
Panettiere and Hickerson dated on and off from 2018 to 2022 and were thought to be back together at the time of her death, according to several reports.
Former soap star Vogel went on: “I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle, and it’s a very challenging industry, and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.
“I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”
She added: “I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace.”
Panettiere’s younger brother Jansen died aged 28 in 2023 from an enlarged heart and aortic valve complications.
Panettiere has spoken publicly in the past about being estranged from her mother, who steered much of her career as a child star. She cut off their professional relationship when she was 19.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a relationship right now,” she told Us Weekly in May.
“But that doesn’t mean that I don’t leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day. It’s hard for me to say, but I’ve chosen to be brutally honest.”
News of Panettiere’s death broke on Monday, prompting heartbroken tributes from the entertainment industry.
An “acquaintance” of Panettiere alerted police to an “unresponsive female” at a home in South Carolina, thought to be an Airbnb, at 1:51pm on Sunday, TMZ reported.
Officials were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in dispatch audio obtained by People. Panettiere’s representative told the outlet: “I don’t have any more information at this time, but it’s looking as though that is the case.”
Narcan, a brand of Naloxene that can be used to counter the effects of an opioid overdose, was reportedly found at the apartment, with the device used to administer it on a mattress. It is not known if the nasal spray was used in an attempt to revive Panettiere.
Paramedics reportedly tried to resuscitate Panettiere using "advanced cardiac life support”, using special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking and did chest compressions on the former child star. She was pronounced dead at 2:32pm, according to TMZ.
Panettiere had flown south from Los Angeles the day before her death with Hickerson, according to reports.
There are “no signs of foul play” and no cause of death has been announced. The Greenville County coroner said there were “no signs of trauma”.
Panettiere’s ex Wladimir Klitschko, who shares daughter Kaya, 11, with his former partner of nine years, said he was “profoundly shocked and grieving” in an emotional statement after her death.
