Weeks before her passing, actress Hayden Panettiere lent her voice to an advocacy campaign for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), urging the public to boycott marine amusement parks that keep dolphins and whales in captivity. The ad features Panettiere in a bathtub, drawing a parallel between the confined aquatic animals and a human life spent in a small space.
"Imagine spending your entire life in a bathtub," Panettiere says in the campaign, emphasizing the frustration and trauma these animals may experience when deprived of their natural ocean homes and social structures. The ad concludes with her plea for viewers to "vow today never to go to a marine park" that holds animals in "extreme captivity," asserting that collective action can end such cruelty.
A PETA representative confirmed to Page Six that the campaign was filmed on July 22 and that Panettiere was "wonderful" on set. The organization issued a statement mourning her loss, calling her a "fierce ally" to animals and a "kind soul."
Panettiere's commitment to animal rights, particularly for marine life, dates back to 2007. At 18, she participated in a protest confronting dolphin hunters off the coast of Taiji, Japan, an event documented in the 2009 Academy Award-winning film "The Cove." She previously credited her role on "Heroes" for providing a platform to speak on issues she was passionate about.
The Whaleman Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation, also memorialized Panettiere, stating she was a "passionate Ambassador to dolphins and whales" who "lent her voice to those beautiful beings who had no voice of their own."
Panettiere died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36 from an apparent overdose. First responders attempted to revive her at the scene, but were unsuccessful. Autopsy results indicated no signs of trauma. Narcan was reportedly found at the scene, though its use by Panettiere is unconfirmed.