Hayden Panettiere‘s ex Brian Hickerson spoke out for the first time after her sudden death.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Hickerson’s attorney Sloan Ellis told TMZ on Thursday, August 20. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
News broke on Sunday, August 16 that Panettiere died at age 36. At the time, TMZ reported that Panettiere traveled with Hickerson, 37, from Los Angeles to South Carolina one day before her death. Local authorities confirmed on Monday, August 17 that they received reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence, who was later identified as Panettiere.
First responders attempted to resuscitate Panettiere using “advanced cardiac life support,” according to TMZ. In addition to CPR, the tactics included special medicines, breathing tubes and heart rhythm tracking. Panettiere was reportedly pronounced dead after the paramedics’ efforts were unable to revive her.
Two ambulances responded to the scene, according to an update reported by TMZ, which noted the residence was where Hickerson had been living with his brother.
In dispatch audio obtained by People, officials were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death. (A cause of death was not immediately revealed.)
Panettiere and Hickerson faced their fair share of ups and downs since they started dating in 2018. Hickerson was originally arrested for domestic violence in 2018 after an alleged argument between the pair.
Hickerson was charged with felony domestic violence, which resulted in a prosecutor-requested protective order. The order mandated that Hickerson could not come within 100 yards of Panettiere or contact her via phone, email or third party, but the charges were dropped the following year.
The actor was arrested again in July 2020 after allegedly punching Panettiere in the face. He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, and his remaining six counts of domestic violence and assault were dismissed. Hickerson served 33 days in prison and was also placed on four years of probation and required to pay a $500 fine.
Amid Hickerson’s legal issues, Panettiere publicly reunited with her ex-boyfriend multiple times. Panettiere later addressed her tumultuous relationship with Hickerson, telling The New York Times in April 2023 that she reconnected with Hickerson after they both became sober.
“I did not do any of this lightly,” she explained at the time about letting Hickerson back into her life after his past arrests for domestic violence. “He knows he deserved what happened to him.”
She noted that their reconciliation was “contingent on him continuing” on his road of recovery.
Panettiere offered more details about their tumultuous romance in her May memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
“It was brutal. It was traumatic. It was emotional. It was important for me to word that experience properly,” Panettiere exclusively told Us at the time. “I needed to believe that it happened for a reason. For something so horrible to happen, the only thing that I could think of to make it all worth it, was [to] let people know that they’re not alone and help people.”
She added: “[I’m] making sure that the people that have gone through similar things, don’t feel like they’re alone, and don’t feel like nobody understands them and knows that there’s somebody out there who went through it. And even though it took her years to truly get herself out of the situation, it’s possible. You can do it.”
Hickerson, meanwhile, spoke out about his past legal issues.
“Man, I mean, I think it speaks for itself … I got arrested for abusing her,” Hickerson said in an interview with TMZ that same month. “And I wouldn’t blame her friends for being pissed off at me. … I had a lot to drink and I got physical with her. I got arrested. I spent the night in jail and that’s just what happens when you lay hands on women.”
Hickerson said he has “had a couple opportunities to apologize” to Panettiere for the abuse.
“Our relationship now is … I think it’s just a mutual respect thing. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart and, you know, I hope the same for her,” he said.
In the same interview, Hickerson also admitted he was still holding out hope of one day marrying the actress. “Yeah, of course… I hope so — she probably doesn’t think the same way,” he told TMZ, noting it was in her best interests to let her walk her own path. “I think that Hayden is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my life, and I would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career.”
Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with boxer Wladimir Klitschko, and her parents, Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
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