Hayden Panettiere promoted her memoir in last public appearance before tragic death
Hayden Panettiere promoted her 320-page memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” during her last public appearance before her tragic death.
On May 26, the “Heroes” alum spoke about the topics in her book, including postpartum depression, motherhood and growing up in Hollywood, at a panel discussion in West Hollywood, California that Page Six attended.
Panettiere wore a black leather jacket, black top, gray jeans and black boots as she chatted onstage with the moderator, “True Detective” actress Alyshia Oche, as seen in our exclusive photos.
During the panel, Panettiere explained how her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression sparked her decision to give up custody of her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.
“The worst thing that somebody said to me is that it was a personal choice that I was making,” Panettiere shared.
The “Nashville” star, whose book came out May 19, admitted she felt “guilt ridden” over being “completely incapable” of parenting Kaya.
“Who would choose to feel like this? Like, how could you even say that to me? This beautiful child is healthy and everything to celebrate,” she explained. “And I’m completely incapable of doing it. I felt so guilt ridden that I was incapable of doing it.”
Panettiere maintained a good, co-parenting relationship with Klitschko and frequently visited her daughter in Ukraine before her death.
Later during the panel, Panettiere talked about her “brutal” experience as a child star, admitting that she had “been groomed” since a young age.
The “Ice Princess” star also said she was aware that the emotional toll of being a child story would eventually “come out sideways” in adulthood.
“I’m playing all these characters and I feel like they’re genuine and they’re a part of me, but who am I outside of this?” she recalled wondering at the time. “What is my identity?”
Also during the discussion, Panettiere explained that sharing her story in her own words was “so healing” for her.
“So many people have come up to me within the industry and outside of the industry and shared their stories with me and said, ‘Because you’ve talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be honest about mine and get myself help, and you saved my life,’” she said.
“And I was like, this is worth it,” she added. “I can hopefully leave the world a better place than I found it. The strength is in our vulnerability.”
Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her “tragic” passing to Page Six on Sunday.
“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,” Skip said. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Panettiere died in her South Carolina home after an “overdose,” according to 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six.
Paramedics responded to a call about an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest” on Sunday and, within minutes, “CPR [was] in progress.”
According to TMZ, emergency responders attempted to resuscitate Panettiere at her apartment complex with “advanced cardiac life support” and chest compressions, but the 36-year-old was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
There were reportedly no signs of foul play, with the police telling TMZ the circumstances surrounding her death did not appear suspicious.
Her cause of death is not yet known.
Panettiere reportedly flew from Los Angeles to South Carolina with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, the day before her death.
