Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Lesley Vogel Speaks Out After Actress’ Death: “She’s With Her Brother And They’re At Peace”

Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has shared her first public comments following the actress’ sudden death at age 36, reflecting on her daughter’s talent, struggles, and the hope that she has found peace.

In a phone interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Vogel described Hayden as an “amazingly talented person” and spoke about the challenges faced by young performers who grow up in the entertainment industry.

“I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry,” Vogel said, adding that she believed Hayden “sadly lost her way” and that she wished things had been different.

“I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace,” Vogel added.

Hayden’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly at age 28 in 2023.

A Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationship

Vogel’s comments come after years of public discussion about the complicated relationship between her and Hayden.

The actress had previously opened up about their strained bond in her May 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. Hayden also discussed how their relationship became complicated as her mother took on both the role of parent and career manager while she was growing up in Hollywood.

In a May appearance on On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Panettiere recalled beginning her career at just 8 months old and explained that, over time, the boundaries between being a daughter and a professional responsibility became blurred.

“Everything was business,” she said, describing how she felt she became her mother’s confidant, assistant, and emotional support rather than simply her child.

Panettiere said that at 19, while filming Heroes, she told Vogel she wanted to end their professional relationship so they could rebuild their connection as mother and daughter.

“I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom,” she recalled telling her.

According to Panettiere, Vogel responded, “You owe me.”

Vogel Previously Addressed Their Estrangement

Around the release of Hayden’s memoir, Vogel publicly responded to her daughter’s claims and confirmed that they were estranged.

In a statement to Page Six, Vogel said she believed the situation was partly connected to the promotion of the book and described having experienced “20 years of trauma.”

She said she had chosen to go no-contact, adding that parents of children in entertainment often face the painful reality of watching their children struggle with difficult choices.

“You cannot save someone who does not want to be saved,” Vogel said at the time.

However, before her death, Hayden had expressed hope that their relationship could eventually be repaired.

In May, she told Us Weekly that although they did not currently have a relationship, she still left the door open for reconciliation in the future.

Despite her difficult relationship with her mother, Panettiere said she maintained a “great relationship” with her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere.

Vogel Speaks About Brian Hickerson

During her NBC News interview, Vogel also addressed Hayden’s former on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who was reportedly with her when she was found dead in South Carolina.

“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,” Vogel said.

According to a police report, Hickerson, 37, and his brother Zach were present when Panettiere was found.

Hayden’s official cause of death has not yet been released, though dispatch audio reportedly included discussions of an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” during emergency response efforts.

Vogel said she and Hayden’s father had long been concerned about Hickerson’s influence, citing what she described as a troubling history.

During their relationship, Hickerson faced multiple arrests, including domestic violence-related charges in 2019 and 2020. Panettiere later described that period as “a very dark and complicated time in my life” while privately struggling with addiction to alcohol and opioids.

In 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner connected to the 2020 arrest. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of formal probation, domestic violence classes, restitution, and a protective order. He served 13 days in jail, while other charges were dropped. The 2019 case was dismissed.

As fans continue mourning Hayden Panettiere’s life and career, her mother’s emotional words offer a glimpse into the complicated family story behind the beloved actress.