Hayden Panettiere's Mom Breaks Her Silence on Their Estrangement — and Points to One Person She Blames

Hayden Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, has addressed their estrangement after the actress' death, saying a "toxic individual" drove them apart. Her latest statement comes after backlash over her earlier comments about Hayden’s final years.

Hayden Panettiere's relationship with her mother had already been complicated long before the actress' sudden death. Now, Lesley Vogel has offered a striking explanation for why the two were estranged — and it points back to someone already at the center of the family’s concerns.

Hayden died at 36 after she was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 16. Her death came after years in which the actress had spoken publicly about the personal struggles she faced away from Hollywood. Her relationship with her mother, meanwhile, had become increasingly distant.

Her First Comments Put Brian Hickerson at the Center

Just two days after Hayden's death, Lesley spoke publicly about the people who had been around her daughter in her final years. In an interview with NBC News, she identified Hayden's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson as someone the family had repeatedly tried to remove from her life.

"This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson."

Lesley also described Hayden as an exceptionally talented person and reflected on the difficulties young people can face after growing up in the entertainment industry. Her remarks stopped short of directly accusing Brian of causing Hayden’s death, but they made clear that she viewed his presence in her daughter’s life as deeply troubling.

But the tension between Brian and Lesley was not one-sided. Brian had also made his feelings about Lesley very clear, telling TMZ in May, "Hayden's mother is by far one of the worst people I've ever met in my life ... I just can't with her. She's terrible."

The bitter history between the two helps explain why Lesley's decision to publicly single out Brian carried such weight. The tension surrounding Lesley’s comments did not stay private for long.

Lesley Faced Backlash Over What She Said About Hayden

Lesley's remarks drew criticism from several people who felt Hayden's death should not have been accompanied by public discussion of her struggles.

Gayle King addressed the comments on Aug. 19, questioning why Hayden’s mother would leave the public with that particular message so soon after her daughter’s death, as reported by People. "You know, guys, you read this, and all I can think is, 'Thanks, Mom, for nothing,'" Gayle said.

The criticism added another painful layer to an already complicated family story, especially because Hayden had previously acknowledged the distance between her and her mother while still hoping their relationship could eventually be repaired.

Then, on Aug. 20, Lesley addressed the estrangement directly.

Hayden's Mom Finally Explains Why They Were Estranged

In a new statement to Entertainment Tonight, shared after the backlash, Lesley made clear that the distance between her and Hayden was not, in her view, a sign that she had stopped loving or caring about her daughter.

"Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love," Lesley told ET. "It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death."

That was a significant shift in emphasis. Rather than simply discussing Hayden's struggles, Lesley was now addressing the question of why she and her daughter had become estranged in the first place. She did not name the person in that statement. But her earlier comments had already given readers a very strong indication of whom she meant.

She Again Referred to the 'Wrong Person'

Lesley continued by saying Hayden had become involved with someone she believed was harmful to her. "Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful," she said.

The wording was notable because Lesley did not identify Brian by name in the new statement, despite having explicitly named him two days earlier. That left the identity of the "toxic individual" unstated in the ET statement itself, while her previous interview had already placed Brian at the center of her concerns.

Lesley then turned her attention back to Hayden herself. "I hope all remember Hayden for the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth," she said. "My heart is with you, Hayden. Mama."

Lesley Says the Investigation Has Left Her With Questions

Lesley also addressed the ongoing investigation into Hayden's death, saying a narcotics investigator had become involved. "It leads me to believe there are still questions surrounding what happened, and I think we are all looking for answers," she said.

That comment is important because Hayden’s official cause and manner of death had not yet been established in the information provided by the family and authorities.

Brian’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, also responded on Aug. 20, but offered little beyond a call for investigators to do their work.

"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."

The response came as questions continued to surround the circumstances of Hayden's final hours.

What Happened Inside the South Carolina Residence

According to the secondary report provided for this story, Hayden was found in cardiac arrest at a South Carolina residence where Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were also present.

According to ABC News, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) joined the investigation on August 19, assisting the Greenville City Police Department, which remains the lead agency.

The development came shortly after Greenville police released a report detailing the scene where Hayden was found in cardiac arrest. An officer responding to an EMS call for an unresponsive person reported that Hayden was at the residence with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson.

The Investigation Has Taken a More Serious Turn

The police report did not establish whether Hayden had been using drugs or alcohol at the time. It also noted that Brian showed officers a bag containing medication Hayden had been taking. Hayden's representative later gave ABC News a brief statement as the investigation continued.

"There's nothing to be shared at this time as the investigation is ongoing, but we are hopeful that justice will be served." The coroner's office has said Hayden's official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional studies.

That distinction is important because the investigation has not officially established that an overdose caused Hayden's death, even as reports surrounding Narcan and the DEA's involvement have intensified questions. And now, a new account from Brian's brother has provided considerably more detail about what happened inside the Airbnb.

Zach Reveals What Happened Inside the Airbnb

According to TMZ's report, Zach Hickerson said he woke up at his Airbnb that Sunday morning, got dressed, and went to church. He said he exchanged messages with Brian on his way there, and they planned to have lunch and play indoor golf after the service.

"When I left church, I called and texted both of them. When I didn’t reach Brian or Hayden, I just assumed maybe they fell back asleep, so I drove over and went to the Airbnb."

"When I got there, I knew the code to the building but not the door code to the Airbnb," he added. He continued, "I knocked loudly, which apparently woke Brian up from a nap they were both taking on the pull out couch bed in the living room."

The brothers then tried to wake Hayden so they could leave for lunch. "When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious."

What happened next had not previously been publicly confirmed.

Zach Confirmed That Brian Administered the Narcan to Hayden

"I immediately called 911, and Brian gave her Narcan." The brothers then attempted to keep her alive while waiting for emergency responders. "We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived."

Zach said they remained there as emergency personnel attempted to save Hayden. "At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life."

His account provides a new detail about the Narcan found at the residence. Zach's statement to the publication now answers that question from his perspective: he says Brian gave Hayden the medication.

The disclosure does not establish Hayden's official cause of death, which remains pending as authorities continue their investigation.

Zach Has a Message for Those Speculating

Zach also addressed the speculation surrounding Hayden's death, saying he wanted the public to wait for investigators to establish what happened.

"There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling. The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation."

"And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth." He said he wanted to clarify his own involvement while allowing those closest to Hayden to grieve.

"At this time, I want to clarify my involvement in effort to keep the focus on the fact that we lost one of the most precious individuals on this earth and to allow those that cared about her to mourn without additional noise, chaos, and misinformation being created and propagated by the media as well as the public."

Zach also described the personal loss. "I am beyond heartbroken and devastated by this tragic and traumatic loss. Hayden was one of my dearest and closest friends that I loved and cared about for the last 8 years."

Then came his direct appeal to the public. "Out of respect for her loved ones, the speculation and sensationalism of her death needs to end until the facts can be released from the investigation."

Friday would have marked Hayden's 37th birthday. Friday would have marked Hayden's 37th birthday. Instead of celebrating with her, her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, marked the day publicly with a tribute to the mother of his daughter.

Wladimir Marked Hayden's 37th Birthday With a Heartbreaking Tribute

"Today is Hayden’s birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world." The message was particularly poignant because Wladimir and Hayden had remained connected through their daughter, Kaya, even after their romantic relationship ended.

Wladimir thanked Hayden's fans, friends, and everyone who had reached out to him and the family following her death. "At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity," he added.

He then made a request that was less about Hayden's career or public image and more about how people treat one another. "If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind."

"Love is a superpower. Use it. Happy Birthday, Hayden. ❤️ You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten."

The words landed on a day that was supposed to have been filled with celebration. Because according to new details, Hayden had already made plans for exactly how she wanted to spend her birthday week.

Hayden Had Been Planning a Trip to See Kaya

Hayden's daughter, Kaya, was not simply someone she hoped to see someday. She had reportedly been planning to visit her in Germany during the week of her 37th birthday.

According to Page Six, a source close to Hayden said the actress was particularly excited about the trip. "She was planning on spending the week of her birthday visiting her daughter in Germany," the source said. "She was so excited to see her and was telling everyone how much she was looking forward to spending time with her."

The planned visit carried special significance given the complicated history surrounding Hayden's relationship with her daughter. Hayden had also been planning a second reunion involving some of the people from one of the most important chapters of her career.

She Also Wanted a Nashville Reunion

She had reconnected in June with former Nashville co-star Sylvia Jefferies while promoting her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. Sylvia, who played Juliette Barnes' mother Jolene Barnes on the ABC drama, told Page Six that she and Hayden had discussed attending a performance by their former co-star Charles Esten in Greenville.

The plan was to attend Charles's August 14 show at The Foundry and surprise him. "We were going to try to surprise him because it was my birthday and then her birthday, of course, is on Friday. … But that didn't happen," Sylvia said.

Sylvia recalled how Hayden reacted when she told her that Charles would be in town. "She's like, 'Oh, mama, that sounds like so much fun. Let me see what I can do.'"

The actress said she had been thrilled to reconnect with Hayden, particularly because she felt Hayden was in a different place while promoting her memoir.

But the reunion never happened. Sylvia said it was devastating to think Hayden had been so close to the event. "And just for [Esten] and I to know that she was right here. It just kind of tears you up. … It just was devastating."

The location makes the missed reunion even more striking. Hayden ultimately died at an Airbnb in Greenville, just a short distance from the venue where Charles was performing.