Brian Hickerson, the ex-boyfriend of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, was involved in a physical altercation at a bar in Greenville, South Carolina, on Saturday night, during which he was seen flinging a bar stool and was later handcuffed by police. The incident occurred at Wild Wing Cafe.
According to an eyewitness cited by TMZ, the altercation began after Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were reportedly heckled by another group of patrons about Panettiere's death. Zach Hickerson then allegedly approached one of the men, leading to a chaotic scene.
Video footage obtained by TMZ shows Brian Hickerson aggressively throwing a bar stool backward as others in the bar can be heard yelling at him to stop. The scene escalated with shouting among multiple individuals. Brian Hickerson was then seen arguing with another man before being physically removed from the area and eventually taken outside. He was later seen being held back by a woman before being taken away by police. In a separate video posted on X, Hickerson is seen handcuffed and sitting on the ground, stating, "GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died."
The Greenville Police Department confirmed to Page Six that officers responded to an alleged assault at the establishment around 9:10 p.m. They encountered Brian and Zach Hickerson, as well as other patrons involved in the dispute. While Brian Hickerson was released from the scene without charges, his brother Zach was taken into custody for disorderly conduct due to being highly intoxicated and was transported to the Greenville County Detention Center.
Both Brian and Zach Hickerson were present at the Airbnb in Greenville where Panettiere died on August 16. Zach Hickerson previously told TMZ that Brian administered Narcan to Panettiere after finding her unconscious and that they performed CPR together before emergency services were called. Panettiere's death is currently under investigation, though police have previously stated there were no signs of foul play.
Brian Hickerson's attorney, Sloan Ellis, previously stated that "Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed." The statement also noted that "police confirmed there were no signs of foul play" and that "Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, has publicly spoken out against Brian Hickerson, stating he was a "toxic individual" who was with her daughter at the time of her death and that the family had tried unsuccessfully to remove him from Panettiere's life. Vogel described her daughter as a talented young woman who "sadly find the wrong path" in the challenging entertainment industry.