Hayden Panettiere‘s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, is speaking out for the first time about her shocking death.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” Klitschko, 50, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, August 18, alongside a throwback photo of him, Panettiere and their daughter, Kaya. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives,” the former professional boxer continued.
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” he added.
Klitschko wrote, “I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”
“I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say,” he went on. “Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences.”
“Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace,” the star’s ex-fiancé concluded his tribute.
Panettiere and Klitschko started dating after her 2009 split from Heroes costar Milo Ventimiglia. The couple met while attending a book launch party. They dated on and off before getting engaged in 2013. The following year, they welcomed daughter Kaya. The pair called off their engagement and split in 2018.
After their breakup, the exes maintained a close friendship as they coparented Kaya. Panettiere relinquished full custody of Kaya to Klitschko amid her struggles with postpartum depression and remained in Los Angeles while Klitschko resided with their daughter in his native Ukraine.
“Wlad is an incredible father, and I know he was doing what he felt was best for our daughter. Living on separate continents made our arrangement even more challenging,” Panettiere exclusively told Us in May 2026. “Despite how I felt, it was important to always put her first.”
Panettiere started dating Brian Hickerson in 2018 after her split from Klitschko. The pair faced ups and downs, with Hickerson getting arrested for domestic violence in 2018 after an alleged argument between him and the actress. (Hickerson was charged with felony domestic violence, which resulted in a prosecutor-requested protective order. The charges were dropped the following year.)
Hickerson was arrested again in 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.
“Getting an abusive person out of your life is like trying to rip a weed out that is so entangled into your life,” Panettiere told Us about the challenging time in the May interview. “Every time you pull it out, another weed pops back up and you’re like, ‘I thought I killed this.’ They always manage to find a way to slither back into your life, even if you’re an incredibly strong-willed person.”
Three months after her sit-down with Us, 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 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.”
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.
