Three of Hayden Panettiere’s best friends are honoring the actress’s legacy on what would have been her 37th birthday, which comes less than a week after she tragically passed away.
Emily Buckingham, Kasey Kitchen and Allie Beatti spoke exclusively with US Weekly, sharing heartfelt tributes to Panettiere.
“Those who have been touched by addiction — whether themselves or a loved one — are a different kind of warrior. It’s a disease that is most certainly not for the faint of heart, but for those who have navigated their way through it, you know the battle cry,” the three began in a statement to the outlet. “Hayden Panettiere knew that call … despite the trauma and difficulties she faced, she always put forth her best effort to confront her demons. Over the years, she conquered a tremendous amount of hardship, betrayal and abuse — and still, despite it all, found the courage within herself to keep going.”
“In light of her birthday, we wanted to find a way to honor her story — the woman she was behind closed doors, without cameras rolling,” they continued. “When Hayden entered a room you felt it — and then you heard it. She was small but mighty, and filled with life. Beaming with a smile from ear to ear, she was always up for whatever the day had in store for her. Her laughter was genuine, and she never ceased to make those she encountered feel at ease.”
“Her heart was immeasurably kind — with a devotion to looking out for those who felt they didn’t have a voice … That was Hayden — the girl who spoke her mind and put her foot down when she wanted things to go her way. Hayden was a go-getter. She was constantly creating and finding new ways to bring her ideas to life — a new product, a new show, a makeup line … the list goes on. The point is, she was a ball of fire on a mission to live a good life, and she wanted to leave this world better than she found it,” the three concluded. “Here’s to you, Hayden. We love you. – Emily, Kasey and Allie x”
Emily, Kasey and Allie Also Shared Personal Tributes To The Actress
Along with their joint statement, the three shared individual messages, paying tribute to Panettiere and detailing their best memories with their friend.
Emily recalled the day she met Panettiere, which was on set, and she said they became a group that was “leaning on one another, a chosen family forever bonded.” She further detailed how they “experienced so many eras together” and got through them all by staying connected and supporting each other.
“There are so many things I could say about you,” she added. “You were effortlessly yourself: empathic, fiery, strikingly beautiful, brave, so funny and wildly talented. Your care for others was unmeasured, constantly making sure the people around you felt supported and loved. Your light was bright and bold.”
Emily ended her tribute by revealing that the duo’s favorite song was “Home, Home is whenever I’m with you.”
As for Kasey, she remembered a specific call she received from Panettiere after the two had begun working together.
“We spoke for hours — most of which, I can’t even begin to recall, but it was the kind of conversation where you just talk about everything and nothing. She was clear-headed, and kind — and boy was she driven. She was a woman on a mission. After three hours on the phone, we had established a kinship with one another. That relationship only grew stronger over the next six years,” Kasey said. “She had a tremendous heart — and always went out of her way to help people. I admired the fire that burned within her when it came to standing up for others. She was never afraid to speak her mind. My greatest wish for her while she was on this earth was that she would learn to stand up for herself as fiercely as she did for others.”
She went on to describe something called Panettiere’s “Care Bear State,” which was a term coined by her trainer as an exercise she did with Kasey, involving the two having to “lock eyes and stare at one another as we were executing a move that burned beyond belief. It was a mixture of intense pain mixed with laughter. The energy in that room was infectious, and I’ll never forget that feeling.”
Lastly, Allie provided her tribute.
“The gift you gave to millions was one thing. What you gave to those lucky enough to know and love you was something else entirely,” she wrote. “Fierce and funny. Beyond loyal, generous, and quite the cheese ball. A protector of the people and animals you loved. You showed up for it — the big milestones, the hard ones, and the small ones you somehow knew mattered most.”
Allie added that Panettiere helped shape her into the woman she is today, further explaining how she recently found a photo of the two in a scrapbook the actress made for her.
“They say that grief over time is like a stone in your pocket. It feels unbearably heavy at first, and then becomes lighter over time. The stone never leaves, nor does it change in size—but the person carrying it becomes stronger. The weight we all feel as a result of Hayden’s passing is immeasurable– but so is the legacy she leaves behind,” Allie detailed. “In honor of her birthday, we hope that those reading this are not only reminded of her commitment to shining a light on mental health and substance abuse issues—but also of her unwavering commitment to kindness and empathy.
“Oftentimes we can be quick to judge without having all the information. You never know what another person is going through. And just because someone may seem to carry something well doesn’t mean the load they bear is any lighter. For those that truly want to celebrate Hayden, let’s all be a little bit better at being human.”
Fans Remember Hayden Panettiere On Her 37th Birthday
“Happy Heavenly Birthday 🤍🪽 May she rest peacefully. And may her little girl find comfort in knowing that she was not only a gift to her, but also to the world. Being a child star is usually never easy… Let’s be honest, history has all but shown us that. People in these child stars lives need to do better,” one person wrote.
“Happy birthday ♡ you were a angel on earth and now you finally earned your wings. May you rest above the stars ✨️,” another person commented.
“Happy heavenly birthday Hayden, I hope you are resting peacefully 🙏🏼❤️,” a fan posted.
“Happy heavenly birthday angel 👼 🥺🥺🥺,” another fan said.
