Wladimir Klitschko will always remember Hayden Panettiere‘s spirit.
Five days after the Bring It On: All or Nothingactress’ death, her ex and father to their daughter Kaya, 11, shared a personal message on what would’ve been her 37th birthday.
”Instead of celebrating the way we had planned,” he captioned an Aug. 21 Instagram post featuring a photo of Panettiere, “today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.”
The former boxer went on to also highlight the responses he’s received since her death was confirmed.
“I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support,” he wrote. “At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity.”
He continued, “If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it.”
Klitschko concluded his heartfelt note with a message addressed directly to the Heroesstar.
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What to Know About Hayden Panettiere’s Death
“Happy Birthday, Hayden,” he added. “You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.”
Panettiere’s cause of death has not yet been determined, although police has confirmed she suffered an apparent overdose and have ruled out foul play during the preliminary investigation.
After her passing on Aug. 16, Klitschko detailed his family’s “profound shock and grief.”
“Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya,” Klitschko continued. “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, 50, with whom she split in 2018 after being on and off for nearly nine years, noted his promise for their only child. “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” he wrote. “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.”
Keep reading for a look at Panettiere’s sweetest moments with her daughter Kaya…
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“It’s a little girl,” the Nashville star told E! on the red carpet. “I can’t wait for her to come out, this little one.”
The pair, who split in 2018, welcomed Kaya Klitschko on Dec. 9, 2014.
“It was grief in the beginning,” she recalled on a May 2026 episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. “But because of the relationship that I do have with her and how things ultimately played out, I’m incredibly grateful to her. She has an incredible father, an incredible family.”
Although the Heroes alum lived separately from Kaya, the mother-daughter duo still shared a strong bond.
“It’s not what I hoped motherhood was going to be or what it would look like,” she admitted. “But I’m so lucky that it turned out the way it did and that she is safe and a wonderful, well-rounded person.”
“I have an incredible relationship with her,” she explained on Jay Shetty’s podcast. “I go travel as much as I can. I see her. I do spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her, but we talk about really deep things.”
“I’ve always strived to be a positive person,” she wrote in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, “but I grieve all the hours I lose to addiction, my broken relationships, and my loved ones who are no longer here.”
Nonetheless, the actress had continued to maintain a positive outlook on her future.
“I’m far from perfect,” she added, “but my life quakes and moments of struggle are little miracles that have helped me grow.”
