Hayden Panettiere offered a poignant glimpse into her relationship with her daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, 11, in the months leading up to the actress's death at 36.
Panettiere died on Sunday, one week before her 37th birthday. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, though the official cause of death is pending confirmation. She shared Kaya with her ex-partner, Wladimir Klitschko. In 2018, Panettiere relinquished full custody of Kaya to Klitschko, who moved their daughter to his native Ukraine amidst Panettiere's struggle with postpartum depression.
In May, during an appearance on CBS Mornings, Panettiere recalled how her daughter, during FaceTime calls, referred to her as 'Britney,' a nod to Panettiere's character in the 2007 film "Bring It On: All or Nothing." Panettiere noted that Kaya's friends considered her character cool due to the film's resurgence among Gen Z. "I'm so blessed to have a great relationship with her," Panettiere said. "I fly over there as much as I can. I'm on FaceTime with her all the time."
A friend of Panettiere, hairstylist Erick Orellana, told Page Six that the actress had been planning a trip to visit Kaya in Ukraine shortly before her death. "Her daughter was always her absolute priority. She loved her so much," Orellana said. "Her daughter was the absolute light of her life. She lit up whenever she spoke about her. Everything she did revolved around her."
In a May interview with Dear Momé, Panettiere discussed her decision to give up custody, stating it was not made lightly and that she was experiencing a difficult period in her life. She also shared on Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast in May that she had sought help, acknowledging that her situation might appear negative but that she could no longer continue living as she was. "The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking. It couldn’t be further from the truth," she said. Panettiere described a years-long cycle of battling depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse as she worked to recover.
Following Panettiere's death, Wladimir Klitschko posted a tribute on Instagram, sharing a family photo. "Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief," he wrote. "The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya." He added that he would ensure Kaya remembers her mother. Klitschko extended his condolences to Panettiere's parents, friends, and fans, emphasizing that "young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon."