Hayden Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson has publicly slammed the actress's estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, amid a heated clash over revelations in Panettiere's forthcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
Hickerson's Strong Words
In an interview with TMZ published on Sunday, Hickerson did not hold back. 'I do have some things to say about Hayden's mom: Hayden's mother is, by far, one of the worst people I've ever met in my life,' he stated. 'I just can't with her - she's terrible.'
The rift centres on Panettiere, 36, coming out as bisexual in her memoir. The Heroes star revealed she has been attracted to women since a 'very, very young age' but was discouraged from sharing this by her mother, who managed her career at one point, for fear it would harm her professional prospects.
Vogel's Response
Vogel, however, told the Daily Mail earlier this month that the timing of the announcement was 'very interesting,' implying it was a marketing strategy to boost book sales. She added, 'I do not believe it was being hidden, but there is no historic proof that this is the case.'
Panettiere, speaking to US Weekly on May 6, said, 'Now that I know that this book is coming out, and that I've chosen to share it with the world, I'm comfortable saying I'm bisexual.' She elaborated on how her mother's professional constraints affected her personal life, noting she lacked the courage to fully embrace her emotions for fear of having to hide a potential relationship.
Mother-Daughter Estrangement
While Panettiere acknowledged that she and Vogel 'don't have a relationship right now,' she remains hopeful for reconciliation. 'That doesn't mean that I don't leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day,' she said.
Vogel told the Daily Mail that the estrangement began around last September, when she decided to initiate a pause. 'After 20 years of trauma, chaos, addictions [and] accusations, I felt I had no other option but to choose no contact,' she explained. 'There will forever be a lingering hope that she will find her own path to inner peace.'
In a separate interview with Page Six on May 14, Vogel suggested the drama was partly a ploy to sell books, describing a personality 'style' characterised by a need for control, entitlement, and a lack of empathy.
Panettiere's Past Relationship with Hickerson
The memoir also delves into Panettiere's tumultuous relationship with Hickerson, marked by toxic cycles and domestic violence. Hickerson acknowledged his past actions, saying, 'I got arrested for abusing her, and I wouldn't blame her friends for being pissed off with me, so I don't really have much to say on that. You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line.'
Hickerson was charged with domestic violence in May 2019, leading Panettiere to obtain a protective order, though charges were later dropped. In July 2020, he was arrested on eight domestic violence charges, eventually pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner in 2021. He served 13 days in custody.
Following the arrest, Panettiere issued a statement hoping her experience would empower others in abusive relationships. Hickerson, who remains in regular contact with Panettiere, expressed hope for a potential reconciliation, calling her 'one of the most talented people I've ever met in my life.'
This Is Me: A Reckoning is scheduled for release on Tuesday.
