New details have come out regarding Hayden Panettiere’s final days, with insiders sharing new details with The Daily Mail regarding how she was shunned by Hollywood and unable to find work while dealing with her mental health and addiction struggles
According to the outlet, all of Panettiere’s “personal and professional setbacks culminated this weekend,” with the actress flying with her ex-boyfriend to South Carolina. She was ultimately discovered ‘unresponsive’ at a residence on Sunday, Aug. 16 and was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Hayden had mental health struggles and addiction issues going on and they played a part in why her career didn’t take off again after Nashville,’ one industry insider told the Daily Mail. “When she was filming the show she had problems on the set, with execs and with her co-stars. She sometimes came to work looking like she’d been out partying. She’d often have to spend extra time in make-up to get her looking camera ready. She’d also sometimes be late for her call time.”
“She was desperate to land another series after Nashville ended, but the word had got out in Hollywood that she was a bit of a problem. Although she was considered a TV star, she still had to audition for big TV projects. She often struggled to get past the audition stage,” they added. “Hayden was on a downward swing recently due to lack of decent roles.”
Hayden Panettiere Had Been Dealing With Back Pain
On Sunday night, following news of her passing, a source close to Hayden told TMZ that she had recently been complaining about back pain. And with that, she was seen on crutches at Los Angeles International Airport in March, telling the outlet that she had “pinched nerves” in her lower back.
“I’ve been dealing with an injury for the past year. Some nerve damage in my lower back,” she told Women’s Health in May. “I wasn’t able to bend my toes or lift my foot at all. No one was able to give me a solid answer.”
“It was like that for so long. I was sitting there going ‘Oh my gosh, am I going to be paralyzed for the rest of my life?’ It’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me physically for sure,” she added.
Hayden Panettiere Died Of Suspected Overdose
Police and emergency personnel responded to a report of an “unresponsive female” around 1:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 16, a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. The caller was a friend of Panettiere.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the spokesperson said. “The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
TMZ further reported that first responders attempted to resuscitate Panettiere using “advanced cardiac life support” as well as special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. as paramedics were unable to revive her.
Dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE also shows authorities discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of the actress’s death.
