Hayden Panettiere’s ex-lover Brian Hickerson made a public statement regarding the actress’ death.

The late child star died at the age of 36 in the middle of August 2026 with an unknown cause of death, when she was in Greenville, South California.

It is worth noting here that the actress was in a relationship with Brian, which started in 2018 and later took an ugly turn as Hayden accused him of domestic abuse, leading to his arrest.

Moreover, she had talked about her relationship in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was published in May.

At the scene of her death, Brian was present along with his brother Zach, and when the police arrived, Brian displayed a “bag of medication” while Zach seemed “very emotional,” as per People Magazine.

On Aug 20, Brian’s lawyer, Sloane Ellis, gave a statement on his behalf and, notably, it is the very first time the former boyfriend publicly addressed Hayden’s death, saying, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. 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.”

Previously, speaking to the outlet, the actress best known for Heroes explained how it was to be in a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, “I wanted to party, I wanted to do everything I wasn’t supposed to do. Acting was my life, but I felt so bad about myself that I lost trust in myself. And that is very detrimental. The idea of not having a responsibility was very appealing at the time,” she revealed at that time.

And said that it was “a very dark and complicated time in my life.”

In 2020, following Brian’s arrest, Hayden openly spoke about the abuse that she went through on her Instagram, stating, “I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve.”

“I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life,” the late actress further added.