Hayden Panettiere’s Ex-Fiancé Wladimir Klitschko Says She Faced ’The Darker Sides of a Very Demanding Industry’
The ex-fiancé of Hayden Panettiere, Wladimir Klitschko, has released a statement addressing the tragic death of the actor and mother of his daughter. In the post, Klitschko wrote about the grief Panettiere’s family endured and touched on the “darker sides” of the industry, which he claims Panettiere was exposed to.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief.” Klitschko wrote in a statement on X. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply,” he continued, before going on to speak about her career in Hollywood.
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry.” The statement reads.
Panettiere was subject to a great deal of scrutiny as a teen. The difficulties that came with being a young woman in Hollywood only continued to plague her as she grew older, with the actor allegedly being subject to sexual harassment and struggling with addiction as an adult.
Hayden Panettiere and the darker side of the industry
Panettiere wrote about her experiences in the industry in her autobiography, This Is Me, published earlier this year.
According to an article from BBC News, the actor was subjected to the scrutiny of the paparazzi at the age of 17. They would allegedly say cruel things to get a reaction, and photos of the actor’s apparent cellulite were circulated on magazine covers. “I suffered from body dysmorphia for years because of that, believing that no matter how strong, thin or young I was, there was no escaping the dreaded cottage cheese thighs.”
She would also write about how a publicist offered her a “happy pill,” which ended up being a gateway drug “that ushered me toward the good of pharmaceuticals and the downfall of addiction.”
The actor was also allegedly sexually assaulted when a TV executive supposedly kissed her on the lips at a party in 2008. She also claimed that “an Oscar-winning actor and director” exposed his genitals to her. Another time, she claims she was ushered into a bed with a naked singer who was apparently famous.
Her Relationship with Wladimir Klitschko
Panettiere met Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko when she was 19; he was 13 years older than her. The couple would get engaged and have a daughter; however, she suffered from postpartum depression and began drinking heavily.
Klitschko helped Panettiere get treatment but ultimately asked her to sign over custody of their child. She later began a relationship with Brian Hickerson, who soon turned abusive towards Panettiere. She said Hickerson would hit her head against the wall and once beat her face so badly that she didn’t leave her home for weeks.
The struggles she faced as a rising star in Hollywood are a damning report on the “darker side” of the industry that Klitschko alluded to. Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé ends his statement by writing, “Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace.” Something those who knew and loved her likely all hope she has now found.
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