Hayden Panettiere has held many roles as an actress, but she’s also a mother to a daughter named Kaya, whom she shares with her ex, Wladimir Klitschko. In an interview with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings,” she spoke about her daughter and revealed why she calls her “Britney” instead of mom.
Hayden Panettiere Discusses Her Daughter’s Unique Nickname for Her
Panettiere signed over custody to Klitschko in 2018, and he raises their daughter in Ukraine. Despite their distance, the mom and daughter had a close bond. “I’m so blessed to have a great relationship with her,” Panettiere said, People reports. “I fly over there as much as I can. I’m on FaceTime with her all the time. She’s now 11 years old, and she’s calling Mommy more and more.”
She continued, “She actually called me and FaceTimed me the other day, and she calls me ‘Britney.’ She goes, ‘Hey Britney.’ It took me a second, and I realized she was talking about ‘Bring It On,’ because her friends are fans of ‘Bring It On.’”
Panettiere is celebrated for her roles in “Nashville,” “Heroes,” “Scream 6,” and “Bring It On.” In the 2006 film “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” she played Britney Allen. Now, 20 years later, Kaya had not only discovered it, but she was also a fan. “I was like, Oh my gosh! She’s now asking me to Zoom with her friends. I’m cool now!” Panettiere said.
Hayden Panettiere Bravely Opens Up About Custody
Panettiere has spoken about her love for her daughter and the heartbreaking decision to give up custody. In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” which was released on May 12, she wrote about her pain. “Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion—including sadness, resentment, and anger—I’ve felt because of it,” she wrote, People reports.
She continued, “I grieve that I’m not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime) and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom. She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me.”
The news of Panettiere’s death was announced on Sunday, August 16. Her father, Skip Panettiere, shared a statement with ABC News. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.” The actress was 36.
Social media has been flooded with tributes from celebrities, friends, and fans who have remembered Panettiere fondly. Among the tributes is one from “Charmed” actress Alyssa Milano, who reminded fans of all the good deeds Panettiere did in her life. She will be dearly missed!
