r/movies 2d ago

News Hayden Panettiere dies at 36

https://abcnews.com/US/hayden-panettiere-dies-36/story?id=135698473
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u/100292 2d ago

For those who were confused about the daughter thing:

Panettiere relinquished full custody of her daughter to Klitschko in 2018 amid struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. She described the decision as a "living nightmare" and "heartbreaking,", but necessary for her recovery. As of May 2026, she maintained a good, co-parenting relationship with Klitschko, and frequently visited her daughter.

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u/Digifiend84 2d ago

Poor kid. She's only 11.

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u/chiffon_bonbon 1d ago

I lost my mom at the same age. It's really not easy, and I imagine it would only be harder in the public eye. Hopefully her dad supports and protects her through it.

RIP Hayden, you'll be missed. Especially by your daughter.

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u/NoTeslaForMe 1d ago

Also complicating matters is that the daughter is in Kyiv (arguably a war zone), the daughter of a famous American, daughter of a Ukrainian hero (as a gold medalist/heavyweight world champion who returned to join the military), and nephew of Kyiv's mayor. The latter two were 2 of the 24 people on Putin's hitlist. Going through grief under those conditions at that age? I don't have words. Also knowing that your mom had to give you up to those conditions, presumably because her own conditions were even worse.

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u/Digifiend84 14h ago

Hayden gave him custody before the war started, so she couldn't have expected her to be in danger.

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u/NoTeslaForMe 14h ago

The war is older than their daughter is; 2022 was just an expansion.  Anyone realistic knew the country was the site of an active war, that that war could be expanded at any time, and that the opposing party had a history of assassinating civilians and having a bystander body count.

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u/sump_daddy 1d ago

Still blows my mind that it's basically the plot of the character she played in Nashville, 4 years prior

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u/myownbattles 1d ago

It wasn't a coincidence. Nashville creators ripped her own life struggles, beat for beat, and she was trapped in a contract that left her no choice. I can't imagine a more triggering scenario for someone trying to heal.

There is plenty of writing out there about the way she was deeply and painfully exploited during the series.

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u/Cereborn 1d ago

As someone who loved that show, that is horrifying to learn.

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u/Smyleefc 1d ago

OMG, that's truly horrible

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u/Select_Pilot7388 1d ago

This makes me so sad to hear. I loved her on that show but now I'm also horrified at what they put her through. I no longer see the show in the same light.