What To Know
- Wladimir Klitschko, Hayden Panettiere’s ex-partner and father of her daughter, expressed deep sadness over her sudden death at age 36.
- Panettiere relinquished custody of their daughter to Klitschko in 2018 as she battled addiction and mental health issues.
- Klitschko promised to keep Panettiere’s memory alive for their young daughter.
Former world champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko has paid his respects to his ex-partner, Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere, who died on Sunday (August 16) at 36 years old.
Klitschko, who shared daughter Kaya (11) with Panettiere, said that he is saddened by the “tragic death” and has asked for privacy as his family goes “through a time of profound shock and grief.” He also promised to keep Panettiere’s memory alive for their young daughter.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” Klitschko wrote on Instagram. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon.”
He continued, “Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya. She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”
Klitschko and Panettiere were in an on-and-off relationship from 2008 to 2018. They got engaged in 2013 and welcomed Kaya in 2014. Following Kaya’s birth, Panettiere battled postpartum depression and addiction to alcohol and opiates. In 2018, she relinquished full custody to Klitschko as she continued to struggle with addiction and mental health.
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” the pro boxer added. “I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”
He concluded, “I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say.”
Panettiere’s rep confirmed her death on Sunday, saying, “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was 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.”
According to TMZ, a friend of the Nashville actress supposedly called 911 on Sunday afternoon. Emergency workers responded to a “cardiac arrest” call for an “unresponsive female” suffering a reported overdose, and Panettiere was found deceased in her South Carolina home.
Police told the outlet there were no signs of foul play and the circumstances of her death did not appear suspicious. An autopsy will be performed to determine her official cause of death.