Wladimir Klitschko has spoken publicly following the death of his former fiancée, actress Hayden Panettiere, describing her passing as a devastating loss for their family and asking for privacy as they grieve.
Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died Sunday at the age of 36, just days before her 37th birthday.
An autopsy found no signs of trauma, while authorities have said the official cause of death remains pending further investigation.
Klitschko, 50, shared a photograph of himself, Panettiere and their daughter, Kaya, from happier times as he addressed the family’s loss.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” he wrote, emphasizing that although he and Panettiere were no longer together, she remained an important part of his life and the mother of their daughter.
A Message Focused on Their Daughter
Klitschko said Panettiere’s memory would remain an important part of Kaya’s life.
He described his former partner as a woman who built an impressive career while confronting some of the difficult realities of the entertainment industry.
He also promised to speak about her with respect so that their daughter would remember her mother for who she was.
The former heavyweight boxing champion extended his condolences to Panettiere’s parents, friends and fans before asking the public to respect the family’s privacy.
“Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace,” he wrote at the conclusion of his statement.
A Relationship That Lasted More Than a Decade
Panettiere and Klitschko first met at a book launch in 2009 and soon began dating.
The couple separated in 2011 but eventually reconciled, and their relationship became serious enough that they announced their engagement in 2013.
Panettiere gave birth to their daughter, Kaya, in December 2014.
The couple later separated again, with the split becoming public in 2018.
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, they maintained an amicable connection while raising their daughter.
Panettiere’s Custody Decision Came During a Difficult Period
The actress’s relationship with motherhood became the subject of considerable public discussion after she agreed in 2018 to give Klitschko full custody of Kaya.
At the time, Panettiere was experiencing a severe personal crisis involving depression, anxiety and substance abuse. She later described that period as one in which she felt emotionally numb and struggled to cope.
She sought professional treatment and entered rehabilitation as she worked to regain control of her life.
In a final interview earlier this year, Panettiere said surrendering custody was among the most painful decisions she had ever made.
“It wasn’t a decision I made lightly,” she said, explaining that she had been experiencing an extremely difficult period in her life.
The Actress Rejected the Idea That She Had Abandoned Her Daughter
Panettiere also pushed back strongly against suggestions that giving Klitschko custody meant she had willingly walked away from her child.
She described seeking help herself and acknowledged that she had reached a point where she knew she could no longer continue living as she had been.
The actress said the situation had developed into a cycle involving depression, anxiety, alcoholism and substance abuse, and that she was desperately trying to find a way back to a healthier life.
She continued to emphasize her close relationship with Kaya, describing her daughter as someone with whom she remained deeply connected.
Why Panettiere Chose Not to Disrupt Kaya’s Life
By the time Panettiere had recovered, she said she faced another difficult question: whether bringing Kaya back to live with her would actually be in her daughter’s best interests.
Panettiere ultimately concluded that uprooting Kaya from the life she had established in Ukraine would be unfair.
She said she loved her daughter and was proud of the young woman she was becoming, while describing Kaya’s life in Ukraine as an “incredible” one.
Her comments offered a more complicated picture of the custody decision than the public discussion surrounding it had sometimes suggested.
A Career That Began in Childhood
Panettiere entered the entertainment industry as a child, appearing in television roles before gaining wider attention in films.
She appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans and provided the voice of Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.
Her major breakthrough came with Heroes, where she played cheerleader Claire Bennet and became one of the show’s most recognizable stars.
She later took on another prominent television role in Nashville, portraying country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons.
Panettiere Built a Second Career Through Music
Her work on Nashville also allowed Panettiere to showcase her singing ability.
She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress for her work on the series, while songs associated with her career as a performer appeared 11 times on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Her film career included Raising Helen, Bring It On: All or Nothing, Scream 4 and Scream VI, where she returned as Kirby Reed.
Questions Remain About Her Final Hours
While Klitschko’s statement focused on the family rather than the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death, questions remain about what happened in the hours before she was found unresponsive.
Authorities have confirmed that her autopsy found no signs of trauma, but her official cause of death has not yet been released.
Reports have also indicated that Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was found inside the apartment where she died. It remains unclear whether the medication had been administered to Panettiere.
A 911 call made shortly after 1:50 p.m. on Sunday reportedly described a cardiac arrest, while a dispatcher subsequently referred to a suspected overdose.
Officials have cautioned that it is too early to draw conclusions about the circumstances of her death.
Witnesses Describe a Sudden Emergency
A neighbor at the Judson Mill Lofts complex in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettiere was staying, described hearing a disturbance after reports that someone had collapsed.
Micah Lee told WYFF that there was significant activity in the hallway and that residents heard discussion about a possible cardiac arrest.
He stressed that he could not independently confirm the details.
The former textile mill, which dates to 1912, has since been converted into residential apartments.
Panettiere Had Recently Traveled to South Carolina
Panettiere was reportedly in South Carolina after traveling from Los Angeles with her former boyfriend Brian Hickerson, a real estate agent, one day before her death.
Hickerson is originally from Greenville, although it remains unclear whether the trip was connected to a family visit or another reason.
The location was also associated with Panettiere’s former Nashville co-star Charles Esten, who performed at a music venue within the complex on Friday as part of his Carolina Tour.
None of those details has established a cause of death, which remains subject to the ongoing investigation.
Her Family Remembers an “Incredible Light”
Panettiere’s family confirmed her death in a statement asking for compassion and privacy.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, described his daughter as an “incredible light” and a force of nature who brought immense happiness to people around her.
The statement reflected the grief now shared by her family, friends, former colleagues and millions of fans who watched her career develop from childhood.
As authorities continue examining the circumstances of her death, Klitschko’s message has placed the focus firmly on Panettiere’s role as a mother and on the lasting place she will hold in her daughter’s life.
For now, her family is asking the public to allow them space to process a loss that has come far too soon.
