Hayden Panettiere's mother seeks to bar boyfriend from funeral

Following the death of actress Hayden Panettiere at age 36, her mother, Lesley Vogel, is reportedly working to ensure that Panettiere’s long-term, on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, is not present at the funeral. Vogel has previously described Hickerson as a “toxic” influence and has sought to distance him from her daughter for years.

Panettiere was found unresponsive at a South Carolina residence on August 16. Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death, noting she suffered from a drug overdose that led to cardiac arrest. While authorities stated there were no initial signs of foul play, the official cause and manner of death remain under investigation. Hickerson, who was with Panettiere when she was found, has not been implicated in her death.

In response to public criticism regarding her reaction to the loss, Vogel defended her mourning process, stating, “You don’t have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child.” Additionally, actress Candace Cameron Bure commented on the tragedy, using the event to discuss the importance of parental guidance and protections for child stars in the entertainment industry.