Hayden Panettiere was one of the most beloved Hollywood stars of the late 1900s and early 2000s. Her filmography includes appearances in iconic films such as A Bug’s Life and Remember The Titans, and Racing Stripes, as well as starring roles in successful TV shows like Heroes and Nashville.It was a huge shock to her fans when Panettiere seemed to take a step back from the spotlight following the ending of the musical soap opera series Nashville.
Is no secret that Panettiere is an extremely talented actress, who was able to transition smoothly from being a child acting to becoming a successful Hollywood actress.
However, most fans were not aware that, while she worked on several of her most popular projects, Panettiere was going through plenty of personal issues. Which is only a testament to her professionalism and dedication.
At the beginning of the year, fans were ecstatic to learn that would be returning to the big screen, after her long break from acting, by reprising the role of Kirby in the newest sequel of the Scream franchise. And now, fans have shown their support after Hayden opened up about some of her struggles in an episode of Red Table Talk, where she talked about her complicated relationship with her daughter, Kaya Klitschko.
Hayden Panettiere’s Relationship With Ex, Wladimir Klitschko, And Their Daughter
Hayden Panettiere and former professional boxer, Wladimir Klitschko, first meet in 2009 at a mutual friend's book launch party.
In an interview on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, Panettiere recalls how the pair met: "I know that I'm small, but he's large. That's how we met. I said, 'You're huge.' And he said, 'You're tiny.' And that was it." She even went as far as to describe their meet-cute as love at first sight.
In 2014, multiple sources revealed that Panettiere was expecting. While she never talked publicly about her pregnancy, in an interview for E! News, Klitschko said that he was sure “that she's going to be an amazing mom.” And in December of that same year, the couple welcomed their daughter, Kaya Klitschko, into the world.
Everything seemed to be going great for the Nashville star. Unfortunately, her relationship with Wladimir Klitschko soon came to an end, and in August 2018 the couple officially canceled their wedding. The split was amicable and free of drama. However, fans were shocked to learn that Klitschko had gotten full custody of Kaya.
Since The Breakup, Panettiere’s Life Has Been Filled With Drama
Until recently, the reasoning behind Panettiere and Klitschko's break-up was a mystery.
It is no secret that in 2014, following the birth of Kaya, Hayden Panettiere suffered from postpartum depression and that the problem was so bad that she voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility in order to improve her mental health.
In an interview for People, Panettiere revealed that around that time, she turned to opioids and alcohol. This led to a rocky relationship with Wladimir Klitschko.
"He didn't want to be around me," she told People. "I didn't want to be around me. But with the opiates and alcohol, I was doing anything to make me feel happy for a moment. Then I'd feel worse than I did before. I was in a cycle of self-destruction." This explains why, after the breakup, Panettiere resigned custody of her child at the time.
After Panettiere and Klitschko split up, the actress began to date Brian Hickerson, a real estate agent. From the get-go, it was clear that Panettiere and Hickerson’s relationship was messy. After 4 years together, they finally broke up in 2020.
Following the breakup, the actress spoke up about the abuse she endured during her relationship with Hickerson. On this topic, Panettiere’s lawyer commented that "As a survivor, she recognizes that her arduous journey of healing has just begun.”
Since then, Panettiere has focused solely on healing and overcoming all her struggles in order to mend her relationship with herself and with her daughter, Kaya.
Panettiere Revealed That Giving Up Custody of Her Daughter Was "Heartbreaking"
In an episode of Red Table Talk, Jada Pinkett Smith and Willow Smith’s talk show, Hayden Panettiere revealed what it was like giving up custody of her child.
She shared that it was ultimately her choice to give her ex, Wladimir Klitschko, full custody of their daughter because, at the time, she couldn't care for her properly. However, she recalls that making that decision was one of the hardest things she’s ever done.
"I mean, it was the worst signing those papers, the most heartbreaking thing I've ever, ever had to do in my life." She revealed.
The idea was for Panettiere to get better, so she could become a better daughter for Kaya. However, that’s not what happened. "I was gonna get better, and when I got better, then things would change and she could come to me, and I could have my time with her — but that didn't happen."
Despite this, Hayden maintains a good relationship with Wladimir and tries to maintain constant communication with Kaya.
Panettiere’s ex and her daughter had moved to Ukraine, from where Klitschko is originally from, after the breakup. Following Russia's war against Ukraine, the former boxer joined the Ukrainian troops to defend his country. When fans started questioning the safety of their daughter, Panettiere revealed that Kaya is safe and far from the conflict zone.
Even though they can’t be together at the moment, it’s clear the actress is doing everything she can to ensure her child is safe and well-cared for.
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