Hayden Panettiere Remembered in Malibu as Family Rifts Shadow Memorial
A Malibu memorial for late actress Hayden Panettiere excluded her partner and mother amid an ongoing investigation into her sudden passing.
A memorial service for the late actress Hayden Panettiere was held in Malibu on Saturday, drawing around 150 guests. Notably absent from the ceremony were her partner, his brother, and the actress's mother, reflecting deep familial rifts amid an ongoing investigation into her sudden passing.
The gathering was organized by her father, Skip Panettiere, alongside close friends. However, Brian Hickerson, her partner of recent years, was excluded from the invitation list. Also barred from attending were his brother Zack and the actress's mother, Lesley Vogel.
Panettiere passed away on August 16 at a vacation rental in Greenville, South Carolina. Hickerson and his brother were present at the location when she was found unresponsive. According to police reports, first responders found Hickerson visibly distraught at the scene. He later presented officers with a bag of medications that he claimed the actress had ingested prior to her death.
Hickerson's attorney, Sloane Ellis, issued a formal statement following the event. He noted that Panettiere's death is still under investigation, though police have confirmed there are no signs of foul play. He added that out of respect for her loved ones and the ongoing probe, no further comments would be made at this time.
Close friends of the actress explained that her family and inner circle had grown increasingly wary of Hickerson's return to her life. Their turbulent relationship had previously ended in 2020 when he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.
Meanwhile, Panettiere had experienced a prolonged estrangement from her mother in recent years due to an ongoing dispute. Vogel, who also lost her son in 2023, addressed her daughter's death in an interview with ABC News, describing herself as feeling numb and struggling to process the reality of the loss.
