Zach Hickerson, the brother of Hayden Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, has spoken out following his arrest for disorderly conduct after a bar brawl. Zach Hickerson stated that public misconceptions surrounding the death of the actress contributed to rising tensions during the incident at a Greenville, South Carolina restaurant on Saturday.
"This is the problem with y'all putting stuff on the Internet: People fill in their own holes and then they want to attack people for no reason," Zach Hickerson told TMZ following his release from jail. "It's just super-frustrating all that we've been through and all the rumors that get started and then people believe them, and then they attack as a result of the rumors."
Brian Hickerson, 37, and his brother were reportedly at the Wild Wing Cafe when patrons at a nearby table began to heckle them about Panettiere's death on August 16. An eyewitness told TMZ that a group of "about five middle-aged people" confronted the Hickerson brothers multiple times.
Eyewitnesses reported that the situation escalated when Zach Hickerson confronted a male patron from the other table, and the exchange appeared to become physical near the bar. Brian Hickerson, who had been drinking for hours, was seen picking up a bar stool and throwing it backward during the commotion.
Brian Hickerson was ultimately handcuffed by police, with footage obtained by TMZ showing him complaining that authorities had leaked details about Panettiere's death. He was released without arrest, but Zach Hickerson was reportedly arrested for disorderly conduct due to intoxication and "yelling profanities."
Both brothers were present at the Greenville condominium where Panettiere, 36, was pronounced dead. According to a police report, Zach Hickerson told officers that Brian was sleeping in another room upon his arrival and found the actress unresponsive. He stated that Brian administered Narcan and that they performed CPR while on the phone with 911 dispatchers.
Brian Hickerson has previously met with the Drug Enforcement Administration regarding the investigation into Panettiere's suspected overdose death. Investigators reportedly believe the actress may have been sold drugs that contributed to her death, and authorities are working to identify a suspected dealer. Panettiere's official cause of death and toxicology reports have not yet been released.
Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had a tumultuous on-and-off relationship that began in 2018. Hickerson had faced multiple domestic abuse charges involving Panettiere. In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, which resulted in jail time, probation, domestic violence classes, restitution, and a five-year protective order.
Zach Hickerson previously told TMZ that there are "a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling" and that "the truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation." He added that those who loved Panettiere "deserve the truth" and should be allowed to mourn her passing without "additional noise, chaos, and misinformation."