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Mom Denies Pressuring Late Actress Hayden Panettiere
23 Aug
Summary
- Mother Lesley Vogel denies pressuring her daughter Hayden Panettiere.
- Vogel claims Panettiere put self-imposed pressure on herself.
- Panettiere was found dead on August 16, age 36, from suspected overdose.
Lesley Vogel, mother of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has publicly addressed claims that she pressured her daughter into a career in entertainment from infancy. Vogel, speaking in an interview on August 22, 2026, asserted that she was a strong, but not abusive, mother. She stated her initial intention was to use Panettiere's early modeling and acting work for a college fund.
Panettiere, who was found deceased on August 16, 2026, at age 36, had previously described her childhood in the industry as being "groomed" and feeling that "no was never an option." Vogel countered these statements, suggesting that Panettiere placed her own pressure on herself to please her mother, rather than it being imposed by her.
Vogel also faced public backlash for initial comments made regarding her daughter's death and the struggles of young actors in the industry. She expressed deep hurt and disappointment over the criticism, particularly after also losing her son, Jansen Panettiere, in February 2023. Panettiere's cause of death is pending further investigation after being pronounced dead of a suspected overdose.
