Lesley Vogel, mother of actress Hayden Panettiere, has spoken publicly about her concerns regarding her daughter’s relationship with actor Brian Hickerson. During an interview with NBC News, Vogel expressed her frustration with the ongoing partnership, stating that she and her family had been attempting to distance Panettiere from Hickerson for an extended period.
Hickerson was present at the South Carolina apartment where Panettiere experienced cardiac arrest. According to police reports, he remained composed during the emergency and provided authorities with a bag of medication he claimed Panettiere had been taking. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma that would have caused her death, with the official cause still under investigation by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
Vogel outlined a troubling history between the pair, noting that Hickerson had enabled destructive behavior following Panettiere’s 2018 rehabilitation stay. The actress detailed in her recently released memoir allegations of domestic abuse in the relationship. Hickerson was previously arrested on domestic violence charges, pleaded no contest in 2021, and received a four-year probation sentence.
Despite her efforts to protect her daughter, Vogel expressed heartbreak over the situation. She reflected on how Panettiere had deviated from her true self, lamenting that the actress possessed many admirable qualities that went unrealized.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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