Filmmaker Griff Furst has shared a disturbing anecdote about Brian Hickerson, the ex-boyfriend of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, recalling a remark Hickerson allegedly made on the set of their film "A Breed Apart." Furst stated that Hickerson boasted he could "get her to do anything," a comment that immediately struck him as a "bizarre power flex" and an attempt at control.
Furst, who worked with Panettiere approximately 10 years before "A Breed Apart," recounted the incident on Instagram, drawing parallels between Panettiere's struggles and those of the late actress Brittany Murphy, with whom he also worked shortly before her death.
Panettiere, 36, was found dead in August at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, where she had traveled with Hickerson. Hickerson, who had a tumultuous relationship with Panettiere and had previously faced domestic violence charges for injuring her, was present at the time of her death. Autopsy reports indicated no signs of trauma contributing to her death, which is suspected to be from an overdose. Her death followed a prolonged struggle with alcohol and opiates, as detailed in her memoir.
Furst described Hickerson's alleged comment as a "direct attempt to control" and noted that while spotting a red flag is one thing, physically removing someone from a toxic situation is another. He believes Hickerson did not intend for tragedy but acknowledged the "noticeably destructive" dynamic between him and Panettiere.
Furst drew parallels to Brittany Murphy, whom he described as a "brilliant, incredibly gifted woman who got sucked into a dark place alongside the partner that she chose." He observed that tragedies like these are often preceded by an identifiable pattern, prompting him to speak out in hopes that Panettiere's passing might encourage an honest assessment of people in similar situations.
Last week, Furst claimed that Panettiere's team had asked him to participate in an intervention for her, which ultimately did not materialize. He noted that he was not leading the effort and that it would not have been appropriate for him to do so.
Panettiere voluntarily relinquished custody of her daughter, Kaya, in 2018 to focus on her recovery. She had an amicable co-parenting relationship with Kaya's father, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Furst, reflecting on his role as a director, stated that while he wanted to support Panettiere, his professional capacity limited his ability to intervene beyond adjusting schedules, collecting internal reports, and assigning handlers. He added that he observed Panettiere "fighting to stay sober" and felt she deserved better company.
Justin Chatwin, Panettiere's co-star in her final film, "Sleepwalker," also shared his observations, describing her as seeming "lonely" during filming last year. He noted that while Panettiere was always "sweet" and "authentic" with him about her struggles with addiction, he sensed she was going through difficulties.
Panettiere and Hickerson first became involved in 2018. During their relationship, Hickerson was charged with domestic violence, leading to a 13-day jail sentence in 2021. Following her death, Hickerson reportedly provided authorities with a bag of medications Panettiere had been taking.