Hayden Panettiere's on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson speaks out publicly on star’s death for the first time
Warning: This article contains discussion of addiction which some readers may find distressing.
Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, has publicly spoken out on the star’s death for the first time.
Panettiere, who also starred in Nashville and the Scream franchise, died aged 36 at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, last month (16 August), with Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, reportedly at the apartment.
Police in Greenville said Panettiere, who had struggled with addiction and her mental health, was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest, with 'no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances'.
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A post-mortem examination by the Greenville County coroner’s office also found that ‘no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death', however, her cause and manner of death have not been confirmed.
According to a Greenville Police Department report, authorities said Zach was 'very emotional' while emergency workers were 'working on Hayden,' while Hickerson did not become visibly emotional until the star was pronounced dead, the report says.
The police report also outlined that Hickerson showed the police a 'bag of medication' that Panettiere was taking when she died.
A statement shared by the Ellis Hinton law firm, on behalf of Hickerson, previously read: "Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.
"As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.
"Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
A month after her death (16 September), Hickerson has now spoken about the tragedy while stopping at a petrol station in Greenville, S.C.
In an exclusive video obtained by E! News, the 37-year-old actor asked: "How do you think I'm doing?"
When a photographer shared his condolences, Hickerson responded: "Appreciate it. That's all I got for you, man."
Panettiere’s ex-partner, former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, previously issued a statement saying his family is 'going through a time of profound shock and grief'.
The couple dated from 2009 to 2018 and their daughter, Kaya, was born in 2014.
In 2018, Panettiere gave Klitschko full custody of their daughter Kaya as she struggled with addiction and mental health.
Panettiere and Hickerson began dating in 2018 following her split from Klitschko, maintaining an on-and-off relationship over the next several years until her death in August of this year.
Last month, Panettiere’s father, Skip, described her as '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'.
Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they 'take time to process this unimaginable loss'.
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Rhiannon Ingle