The Tragic Loss of Jansen Panettiere
In February 2023, just weeks before the premiere of Scream 6, Panettiere’s world was shattered when her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, passed away at 28 due to an undiagnosed heart condition. His death was sudden and heartbreaking for Panettiere, who had always felt it was her job to protect him.
“He was my only sibling, and when I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul,” Panettiere told People in an emotional interview. The grief was overwhelming, and she found herself dealing with agoraphobia—a condition she had faced in the past—along with physical symptoms of stress that led to rapid weight gain.
“I just ballooned out,” Panettiere explained, citing the stress and cortisol flooding her body after her brother’s death. Her self-esteem plummeted, and leaving the house became a significant challenge. However, she eventually started working with personal trainer Marnie Alton, whose long, therapeutic walks helped Panettiere begin her healing process.
So What Happened to Hayden Panettiere?
Before the tragedy of Jansen’s death, Panettiere had been working hard on her recovery from alcohol and opioid addiction, a struggle that began in her early years in Hollywood. Panettiere first opened up about her battle with addiction in a 2022 interview with People, admitting that she started using drugs as early as 15.
Her addiction spiraled after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Battling postpartum depression and other personal challenges, Panettiere continued down a destructive path. In 2020, she finally sought help, entering an inpatient rehab facility and embracing sobriety .
The road to recovery has been rocky, and while Panettiere has remained committed to staying sober, recent interviews have sparked concern among fans. A People video posted on Instagram in September 2024 led to speculation about whether the actress had relapsed. Viewers noted her slurred speech and glazed eyes, raising alarms across social media. Some even compared her demeanor to that of the late Anna Nicole Smith .
In her People interview, Panettiere expressed how proud she is of Kaya, saying, “She’s beautiful, and she came out just like me… She is my personality through and through.” While distance has kept them apart, Panettiere continues to work on herself, determined to be the best version of herself for her daughter .
A New Perspective on Life
Despite the profound grief from losing her brother and the ongoing challenges in her personal life, Panettiere has found new strength. “When something so horrific, so deep, so catastrophic happens in your life, there’s not much that can really rock you anymore,” she said. Panettiere admits that while the pain of Jansen’s death will never fade, she has gained a new perspective on what truly matters in life.
She is also preparing for the release of her upcoming film Amber Alert, due in theaters on September 27. Though she remains excited about the project, Panettiere says she is most grateful for feeling more like herself again every day.
While concerns remain, especially after her recent People interview, Panettiere is determined to push forward, embracing both her roles as a mother and an actress .
