Skincare giant Neutrogena has issued a public apology following the sudden death of actress Hayden Panettiere, acknowledging that the company made her feel unsupported after she publicly disclosed her battle with postpartum depression — a revelation Panettiere herself said cost her a long-running ambassadorship with the brand. The statement came days after the Heroes and Nashville star was found unresponsive at a private residence in Greenville, South Carolina, and was pronounced dead at the scene at the age of 36.
Neutrogena's apology and what Panettiere alleged
Panettiere had represented Neutrogena for more than a decade before the partnership ended in the wake of her 2015 public discussion of postpartum depression. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, she wrote candidly about the fallout: "Neutrogena cancelled my long-standing contract, and it was yet another blow in a year that had given almost nothing else."
She described the personal devastation behind that difficult period: "I had postpartum depression, and it sucked. I wanted more than anything to get back to that place of happiness, but I didn't even know where that place was anymore."
Following her death, fans called for a boycott of the brand over its alleged treatment of the actress. Neutrogena responded with a statement acknowledging the harm done.
"We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere's passing," the company said. "For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community. We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time. This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be."
The company also announced it would invest in a longstanding community health partner to help more women access support, specifically including care for postpartum depression. "Hayden's courage in sharing her challenges helped inspire important conversations and awareness," it added.
Investigation into Panettiere's death widens
While the corporate fallout continues, the circumstances surrounding Panettiere's death remain under active investigation. Emergency crews responded to reports that she had suffered a cardiac arrest at a private residence in Greenville on Sunday afternoon and attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death, and police initially indicated no signs of foul play. However, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has since joined the investigation, working alongside the Greenville City Police Department. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed the DEA's involvement as of Wednesday.
Authorities have been careful to note that the agency's participation does not confirm that drugs played any role in Panettiere's death. Her official cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation.
A representative for Panettiere issued a brief statement following the DEA's involvement, saying: "There's nothing to be shared at this time as the investigation is ongoing, but we are hopeful that justice will be served." The representative did not elaborate on what "justice" meant in this context.
A life reclaimed — and a story still unfolding
In the months before her death, Panettiere had been focused on reclaiming her own narrative through her memoir, speaking openly about addiction, abuse, motherhood and the complex relationships that defined her life. The book painted an intimate and at times harrowing portrait of a woman working through significant personal trauma in the public eye.
An increasingly complex picture of her final days continues to emerge. It is understood that Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson has responded to news of her death through his lawyer, though details of that response have not been made public.
No official cause or manner of death has been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
