Amanda Bynes reacted to Hayden Panettiere‘s death after facing her own challenges in the public eye.
Bynes, 40, took to LinkedIn on Monday, August 17, to share screen grabs of an interview Panettiere gave in which she reflected on childhood stardom.
“Life can hit you hard, and fast,” Bynes wrote. “What a horrible situation. 🙏🏼🕯️🕊️.”
In the sit-down interview with Glamour in 2013, Panettiere reflected on her experience as an actress, saying, “I will never say that I’m perfect; I will never pretend to be perfect. That’s just unrealistic. You’re kind of unexpectedly put in this position of becoming a role model; that’s not something you choose.”
The magazine profile mentioned Panettiere’s peers — specifically Bynes and Lindsay Lohan — who had their own ups and downs in the spotlight, to which she replied that she understood why she was seen as “Miss Perfect” in comparison to fellow child stars.
“I came up in the Messy Generation. The generation of the disaster child,” Panettiere explained. “It’s not that I didn’t go to clubs, have my picture taken. I was 16 years old. I was experimenting just like any kid.”
She continued: “But I had friends and family around me to yank me back when I was heading in the wrong direction. … The thing that really saved me was that I still had that healthy fear of my parents — I still had a midnight curfew at 18!”
Panettiere, who made her acting debut as a child and was known for her roles on Heroes, Nashville and more, faced ups and downs in the public eye. She took a hiatus from acting in 2018 while struggling with postpartum depression and alcohol and opioid addiction.
News broke of Panettiere’s death on Sunday, August 16.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” read a statement from her father, Skip Panettiere. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
South Carolina police, meanwhile, confirmed an investigation is underway, noting, “The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
Bynes, for her part, has struggled with her mental health for many years since becoming a household name in the early 2000s. She was placed under a temporary conservatorship in August 2013 following a series of mental health and substance abuse issues. Her mother was ultimately placed in charge of Bynes’ healthcare and personal affairs.
In 2022, Bynes filed a petition to terminate her conservatorship and included a mental capacity declaration stating that she was mentally fit to look after herself and her affairs. A judge ended her conservatorship one month later, but Bynes’ personal issues have continued to play out in the public eye.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
