Brian Hickerson, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has reportedly lost 40 pounds since her death on August 16.
Sources close to Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, told TMZ that Brian is "extremely heartbroken" and grieving Panettiere's passing. Panettiere died at age 36.
Earlier this month, Brian and Zach were involved in an altercation at a bar in Greenville, South Carolina, which resulted in Zach's arrest for disorderly conduct. According to reports, Brian was heckled by another patron who accused him of being responsible for Panettiere's death. The sources told TMZ that the outing was an attempt to help Brian cope and get him out of the house.
This incident occurred months after Panettiere detailed alleged instances of abuse by Hickerson in her May memoir, "This Is Me Now." In response to the memoir, Hickerson had called his behavior "terrible" and stated he had not been taught about domestic violence at an early age.
In 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is reportedly investigating Panettiere's death, focusing on text messages between the actress and a drug dealer. While some reports have suggested Panettiere died from a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill, the Greenville County Coroner's Office has stated that no official information has been released.
Brian's lawyer previously issued a statement that noted the investigation into Panettiere's death was ongoing and that police had confirmed no signs of foul play. The statement requested respect for Panettiere's loved ones and the investigation, indicating no further comment would be made at that time.