Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson spoke warmly about the actress and predicted a long future ahead for her just three months before her sudden loss at age 36.
Hickerson sat down with TMZ’s Charlie Neff in May while Panettiere was promoting a new memoir. During the interview, Hickerson called Panettiere “the sweetest thing in the world” and explained why she would always hold a special place in his heart.
“It’s not about who you spend Saturday night with, it’s about who you spend all Sunday with, and Hayden Panettiere is a Sunday girl,” Hickerson said.
The comments have taken on added significance following the events of Sunday, August 16. Panettiere was found unresponsive at a South Carolina residence after traveling to the state with Hickerson.
The “Guiding Light” child star’s official cause and manner of death have not been determined.
Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, Predicted Decades More Success for the Acclaimed Actress
Hickerson and Panettiere began dating in 2018 and had an on-again, off-again relationship in the years that followed.
During his May interview, Hickerson acknowledged that their relationship had been complicated. When asked whether he believed Panettiere would be better off without him, he said he wanted her to have the opportunity to move forward.
Hickerson said he would be an “idiot” not to walk away and allow the “Scream” star to “flourish in her career.”
He also called her the most talented person he had ever met and acknowledged that they “probably wouldn’t be good together.”
Despite that assessment of their romantic relationship, Hickerson remained optimistic about Panettiere’s future. He said he was excited to see what she would accomplish over the next 30 years of her career and added that she would always hold a special place in his heart.
Around the same time, Panettiere was also speaking publicly about looking ahead.
During a podcast appearance, the “Nashville” and “Heroes” actress said she had a lot of life left to live and felt she had closed the book on a dark chapter of her life.
Hayden Panettiere Was Found Unresponsive After Traveling to South Carolina
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday.
Law enforcement sources said a friend called 911 at 1:51 p.m. and reported that Panettiere was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest.
Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate her, but their efforts were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
Dispatch audio from the emergency response referenced a possible overdose, according to reports. However, authorities have not officially determined the cause of Panettiere’s death.
Police previously said there were no initial signs of foul play and that the circumstances did not appear suspicious. An investigation remains open as authorities work to determine what happened.
Hickerson is originally from South Carolina, where family members still live. He later moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in real estate development and acting. His limited acting credits include an appearance in the 2017 thriller “M.F.A.”
