Lesley Vogel, the mother of late actress Hayden Panettiere, spoke out following the “Remember the Titans” star’s death.
In a lengthy interview with Daily Mail, Vogel — who was estranged from Panettiere at the time of her passing — expressed her deep admiration for the “Ice Princess” actress’s ex, Wladimir Klitschko.
Lesley Vogel on Klitschko
Vogel, who has had harsh words for Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, called Klitschko “exceptional.”
“He is one of the most exceptional people I’ve ever met,” Vogel told Daily Mail.
Panettiere and the former heavy weight champion had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2009 until 2018. They welcomed daughter Kaya in 2014, but the actress ultimately signed over custody to Klitschko amid their split.
“Her child’s father is Wladimir Klitschko,” Vogel continued. “He has people surrounding [Kaya] who are very positive and supportive. So I’m not worried about Kaya.”
She added, “This child is exceptional. I mean, she’s an amazing human being. She’s 11 years old, speaks five languages. She’s a hunter jumper and wins.”
Despite her praise of Panettiere’s ex, Vogel’s relationship with her daughter was strained in recent years.
“Whether or not my mom approved of my performance made or broke it. I either got love and pride, or I got shame,” Panettiere wrote in her May 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”
She later explained during an appearance on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast that after 19 years of her mother acting as her manager, the “Nashville” star decided to part ways professionally.
“I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom,” she recalled telling Vogel at age 19. “I remember being hopeful. But I also wasn’t expecting the reaction that I got, which was, ‘You owe me.’ And that’s all she said. And she walked out.”
Klitschko Remembers Panettiere
Following the death of his ex and the mother of his child, Klitschko took to social media to remember the late star.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” he shared via Instagram on Tuesday, August 18. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”
Klitschko added, “She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”
He went on to ask for “privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” the proud father added. “I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”
In her May 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere opened up about her decision to sign over custody of her daughter.
“Could I fight Wlad? Sure. Did I want to? Yes. But should I? No,” Panettiere wrote. “I couldn’t do it to my Kaya. I signed the papers and Wlad got our child.”
