Hayden Panettiere’s ex Wladimir Klitschko vows to ‘make sure daughter remembers her’
Wladimir Klitschko paid tribute to ex Hayden Panettiere (Image: Getty Images | X/Klitschko)
Wladimir Klitschko has promised to keep Hayden Panettiere’s memory alive for their daughter, writing in a statement on X that he will “always speak of her mother with respect” after the actor’s death aged 36.
Klitschko wrote: “Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief.” He added: “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon,” praising her “immense talent” while also referencing “the darker sides of a very demanding industry”.
He continued: “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.” Panettiere and Klitschko’s daughter Kaya was born in 2014 and is now 11.
Panettiere was pronounced dead on 16 August, after emergency responders attended to a call reporting a “cardiac arrest” after a suspected “overdose”, as per Page Six, but her cause of death has not been officially confirmed.
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said in a statement: “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.” The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was completed and “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death”, with the cause and manner of death pending further investigation.
Hayden Panettiere’s daughter Kaya
Former professional boxer Klitschko and Panettiere announced their engagement in 2013 after starting dating in 2009, welcomed Kaya in 2014, and split in 2018. After this, Klitschko was granted full custody and they moved to Kyiv, in his home-country of Ukraine.
Panettiere later spoke publicly about the custody decision and the impact it had on her, slamming the suggestion she “abandoned” Kaya.
Speaking in May of this year on the On Purpose podcast, Panettiere said: “The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking.”
The actress continued: “It couldn’t be further from the truth,” adding: “It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse and just me trying to find my way back.”
Panettiere explained she chose not to try and get custody of Kaya back after her recovery, saying it would have been “unfair” and “selfish”. She said they had an “incredible relationship” now, with them regularly speaking on FaceTime.
Hayden Panettiere’s career
Panettiere broke out as Claire Bennet in Heroes, earned acclaim and Golden Globe nominations for Juliette Barnes in Nashville, and became a modern horror favourite as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise.
Tributes have continued from across the entertainment world, including in an Instagram post from Nashville co-star Connie Britton, and her former on-screen sister Brittany Snow.
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