{"id":11678,"date":"2026-08-17T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/hayden-panettiere-spoke-about-heartbreaking-decision-in-one-of-her-final-interviews\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T09:09:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:09:00","slug":"hayden-panettiere-spoke-about-heartbreaking-decision-in-one-of-her-final-interviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/hayden-panettiere-spoke-about-heartbreaking-decision-in-one-of-her-final-interviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Hayden Panettiere spoke about heartbreaking decision in one of her final interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_797baf\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">The US actress has passed away aged 36<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37559156\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Hayden Panettiere \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Hayden Panettiere <cite aria-label=\"Image:  Ian West\/PA Wire\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image:  Ian West\/PA Wire)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hayden Panettiere opened up about giving up custody of her daughter while <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"battling addictionLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/drugs-alcohol-rolled-together-big-36846011\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">battling addiction<\/a> in one of her last interviews before her death at aged 36.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A spokesperson for the<a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" American actress,Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/entertainment\/tributes-pour-heroes-nashville-star-37558878\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\"> American actress,<\/a> best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, confirmed her passing on Monday, August 17.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In a statement they confirmed her family would cherish her memory as an &#8220;incredible light&#8221; who brought &#8220;immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In one of her final discussions, Panettiere sat down with <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"parenting publicationLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/parenting\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">parenting publication<\/a> Mome for its July cover story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She spoke to the publication about the life-threatening birth of her daughter Kaya, 11, and her subsequent decision to hand over custody to her former fianc\u00e9 Wladimir Klitschko, 50.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37559106\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37559106\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:0.7183333333333334\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hayden Panettiere attends Build Presents Charles Esten &amp; Hayden Panettiere Discussing &quot;Nashville&quot; at AOL HQ on January 5, 2017 in New York City. \" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559106.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Hayden-Panettiere.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559106.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Hayden-Panettiere.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559106.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Hayden-Panettiere.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559106.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Hayden-Panettiere.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"A representative had confirmed that Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">A representative had confirmed that Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36.<cite aria-label=\"Image: Jamie McCarthy\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Jamie McCarthy\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While battling substance addiction in 2018, the actress took the difficult step of signing over custody of her daughter to her ex, a Ukrainian former boxer who was residing in a different country to Panettiere at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said: &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I was going through a really challenging time in my life&#8230; I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After Kaya&#8217;s birth in 2014, Panettiere recalled suffering a severe haemorrhage after undergoing seven blood transfusions and surgery to repair failing blood vessels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said: &#8220;I closed my eyes and just prayed for my daughter to be OK. I truly was ready to go if it was my time. Kaya being safe and healthy was all that mattered.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Yet days afterwards, she remembered feeling &#8220;nothing&#8221; when she looked at her daughter and went on to develop postnatal depression. The actress subsequently turned to alcohol.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said: &#8220;I turned to wine, which ultimately ended up leading to an alcohol dependency. It was how I would get through each day.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite receiving treatment, Panettiere believed the &#8220;root cause&#8221; of her drinking was depression and it remained unaddressed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She admitted: &#8220;I wish more people had known what it was at the time. Maybe I wouldn&#8217;t have waited so long to get help.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Six years after giving up custody, Panettiere discussed her present day relationship with her daughter.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37559124\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37559124\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.6853932584269662\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hayden Panettiere's father has announced her death\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559124.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_d8baa571-8333-4ecd-abc0-33543e0da05d.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559124.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_d8baa571-8333-4ecd-abc0-33543e0da05d.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559124.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_d8baa571-8333-4ecd-abc0-33543e0da05d.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559124.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_d8baa571-8333-4ecd-abc0-33543e0da05d.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Hayden Panettiere's father has announced her death\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Hayden Panettiere&#8217;s father has announced her death<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said: &#8220;I love my daughter, and I&#8217;m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She&#8217;s like a mini-me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The actress continued, saying she had &#8220;been able to put her first no matter how I&#8217;ve felt or what I&#8217;ve experienced&#8221; and expressed hope that one day Kaya would &#8220;understand my story and why I wasn&#8217;t able to be with her all the time&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She then described herself as &#8220;resilient&#8221; and a &#8220;work in progress&#8221;, adding that she was &#8220;doing the work and doing my best&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Earlier this year, Panettiere published her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she also explored being separated from her only child.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She penned: &#8220;Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it&#8217;s hard to describe the layers of emotion \u2013 including sadness, resentment, and anger &#8211; I&#8217;ve felt because of it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I grieve that I&#8217;m not the mother I thought I&#8217;d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her fatheand me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following the announcement of Panettiere&#8217;s passing, her father Skip released a statement describing her as &#8220;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&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He further requested that the family be afforded privacy as they &#8220;take time to process this unimaginable loss&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">No cause of death has been announced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/entertainment\/celebrity\/hayden-panettiere-spoke-heartbreaking-decision-37559057\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The US actress has passed away aged 36 Hayden Panettiere (Image: Ian West\/PA Wire) Hayden Panettiere opened up about giving up custody of her daughter while battling addiction in one of her last interviews before her death at aged 36. A spokesperson for the American actress, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk\/article37559156.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200d\/0_df205e1e-43f8-4b5f-a29d-12524fb7d9fd.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[631,2793,369,14287,1968,1290,14288,14582],"class_list":["post-11678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity","tag-celebrities","tag-decision","tag-final","tag-hayden","tag-heartbreaking","tag-interviews","tag-panettiere","tag-spoke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}