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Neutrogena has acknowledged making actress Hayden Panettiere feel abandoned during a vulnerable period of her life, though the skincare brand stopped short of issuing a formal apology. The statement came four days after Panettiere’s death at age 36, following renewed public attention to her account of how the company ended their decade-long partnership.
Panettiere had served as a prominent face of Neutrogena beginning in 2005, appearing in numerous advertising campaigns throughout her tenure. In 2015, she discussed her struggle with postpartum depression during a television appearance, and subsequently revealed in her 2026 memoir and related interviews that the company chose not to renew her contract, citing a violation of their morals clause. The actress expressed deep hurt that the brand provided no support during this challenging time.
The company’s response acknowledged Panettiere’s decade of representation and stated it understood how it had failed to provide needed support when she was going through difficulty. Neutrogena announced plans to invest significantly in a community health organization focused on expanding access to postpartum depression resources, though it did not immediately specify which organization would receive funding or provide implementation details.
The controversy highlighted broader conversations about how major corporations respond when their representatives openly discuss mental health challenges, and raised questions about the responsibility brands bear toward the individuals who represent them during personal crises.
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Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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