Mom Speaks on Daughter's Struggles

Hayden Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, has spoken out about the late actress's difficult period following her daughter's custody arrangement. Vogel stated that Panettiere relinquished custody of her daughter Kaya, born in December 2014, to her former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko for safety reasons. Panettiere later explained on Jay Shetty's podcast that by the time she recovered from postpartum depression and addiction issues, she felt it would be unfair to disrupt Kaya's life.

Vogel believes this decision was a catalyst for Panettiere's subsequent struggles, especially after her relationship with Brian Hickerson began in 2018. Panettiere passed away at 36 in South Carolina. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, and her death remains under investigation. Brian and Zach Hickerson were present at the scene, with Zach claiming they attempted to revive Panettiere.

However, Vogel has refuted these claims, telling the Daily Mail that Brian is culpable for her daughter's death. Vogel recounted an instance where Panettiere expressed her intention to return to Brian, despite his past harmful behavior. Vogel ultimately gave her daughter an ultimatum regarding the relationship, an outcome she never anticipated.