Brian Hickerson is publicly addressing Hayden Panettiere‘s death.
The 37-year-old—who, along with his brother Zach Hickerson, was with the Heroes actress in South Carolina at the time of her Aug. 16 passing—spoke out about the tragedy for the first time.
While stopping at a gas station in Greenville, S.C., on Sept 16, Brian shared in an exclusive video obtained by E! News, “How do you think I’m doing?”
And when a photographer extended his condolences, Brian replied, “Appreciate it. That’s all I got for you, man.”
These comments from the aspiring actor come nearly a month after his attorney Sloan Ellis released a statement to E! News on his behalf.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation,” the message read, “and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” adding that there would be no further comment at this time “out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones.”
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Brian Hickerson’s Sister Speaks Out About His Relationship With Hayden Panettiere
Hayden’s family are still awaiting answers about her final hours and the circumstances of her death. The late 36-year-old was found unresponsive due to cardiac arrest by EMS, who “attempted to perform life saving methods for an extended amount of time,” an incident report obtained by E! News showed.
While the cause and manner of death are pending amid the investigation, Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis‘ autopsy report, obtained by E! News, showed that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” In addition, 911 dispatch audio reported by multiple outlets indicates that paramedics assessed an apparent overdose.
Officers on the scene detailed Brian’s presence at the time in a death investigation report. Per the record, Brian “did not become emotional” until Hayden was pronounced dead, though his brother Zach—who identified his brother Brian as Hayden’s boyfriend—was “very emotional” while responders attempted to save her life.
Brian also showed authorities a “bag of medication” that he alleged belonged to the Nashville alum, stating that Hayden was taking the medication leading up to the fatal incident.
Before reconvening her relationship with Brian—that had been on and off again since 2018—Hayden had told E! News in May that she was single.
The tumultuous relationship had been marked with legal woes due to a domestic violence incident in 2020. Brian was sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.
After Hayden’s death, her mother Lesley Vogelalso spoke out, telling Entertainment Tonight Aug. 20 that she and Hayden were estranged “due to the involvement of a toxic individual.”
She alleged that Brian’s romantic relationship with her daughter was a
“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death,” she told NBC News Aug. 18, “and that was Brian Hickerson.”
For more about the investigation into Hayden’s death, read on.
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Zach also shared in an Aug. 21 statement to TMZ that Brian gave Panettiere Narcan—an opioid overdose reversal medication—after the pair found the actress unconscious in the apartment she was renting. Zach also said that he and Brian “jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived.”
Police noted in an Aug. 16 release that “the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances” around her death.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Ellis told E! News Aug. 20. “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.”And while police told People officers “responded to a call for a welfare check at a home belonging to Brian Hickerson’s family” on Aug. 19, they noted “the call is unrelated to the Hayden Panettiere death investigation and did not require an incident report.”
“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death,” she told NBC News Aug. 18, “and that was Brian Hickerson.”
While Panettiere—whose brother Jansen died in 2023 at ae 28—and her mom had publicly spoken about their estrangement, Vogel remembered her daughter as “an amazingly talented person in so many departments.””I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry—it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry,” she added, “and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.”Additionally, her ex Wladimir Klitschko addressed his “profound shock and grief” he and their daughter Kaya were facing in the wake of Panettiere’s death. The Ukranian boxer further vowed to keep the Nashville alum’s legacy alive in Kaya’s memory.
