Brian Hickerson, the on-again, off-again boyfriend of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, reportedly sent flirtatious messages to a woman in South Carolina in the months before Panettiere's death, according to a new report.
Page Six reported Thursday that Hickerson exchanged text messages and Instagram direct messages with a 26-year-old woman in Greenville. The woman, who spoke to the outlet anonymously, stated she first encountered Hickerson on March 28 at a Greenville bar. Panettiere died on August 16 in Greenville, with officials suspecting a drug overdose.
The timeline of Hickerson's communications with the woman and his relationship status with Panettiere at the time are unclear. The outlet noted that Hickerson and Panettiere were photographed together at Los Angeles International Airport on March 2. It remains undetermined if there was any overlap between Hickerson's interactions with the woman and his relationship with Panettiere.
The woman told Page Six that she was heavily intoxicated when she first met Hickerson and recalled little of the encounter. Hickerson reportedly followed her on Instagram on March 29 from an account that has since been deactivated. Messages reviewed by the outlet show Hickerson inviting the woman to join him for a drink at a bar.
According to the report, the woman was unaware of Hickerson's connection to Panettiere at the time. She responded to Hickerson on April 1, explaining her limited memory of their meeting and apologizing for missing his invitation. Hickerson reportedly told her she did not appear too drunk and that he was out because his brother was visiting.
He also suggested taking her to Halls Chophouse, an upscale restaurant in Greenville, after she allegedly asked him to take her somewhere nice for a date, saying it would be preferable to Waffle House. Hickerson, who recently moved from Los Angeles, expressed pleasure at meeting a "pretty girl" in Greenville. He also mentioned he had her phone number and would text her.
The woman reportedly asked Hickerson for details about where they met and his age, stating she was 25 at the time. She expressed a preference for meeting properly and jokingly said she only went to Waffle House on about the 12th date.
Hickerson, who is 36, reportedly asked if his age would be a "deal breaker" and stated he reads "on a 25 year old level." The woman replied with an emoji indicating amusement and suggested the upscale restaurant for an early date, with Waffle House reserved for later.
According to Page Six, Hickerson told the woman she was "adorable" and inquired about her hometown and alma mater, stating he also grew up in Greenville. He mentioned he had consumed "ten vodka sodas" when they first met.
The woman told the outlet she stopped corresponding with Hickerson due to the age difference and her lack of recollection of their initial meeting. She did not respond to subsequent texts from Hickerson on April 2 and April 4, where he mentioned being out of town for work and proposed meeting mid-week, and later asked when he would be taking her to Halls.
On April 4, Hickerson also responded to an Instagram Story the woman posted about attending Easter Sunday services, asking where she attended and stating it sounded like she was reading his mind as he was planning to skip services as well.
The woman stated that she did not reply to Hickerson's last text on April 14. She first heard his name again when news of Panettiere's death broke. Upon reviewing her messages, she vaguely recalled his name and expressed disbelief at potentially being connected to a high-profile relationship under such tragic circumstances.
She also told Page Six that Hickerson never mentioned his relationship with Panettiere, and she only learned about his past domestic abuse convictions related to their relationship after Panettiere's death.
Attorneys for Hickerson and representatives for Panettiere did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Mail.
Hickerson and Panettiere had been publicly linked since 2018 and had a history marked by domestic abuse allegations. In April 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of domestic abuse in Los Angeles, stemming from an incident in July 2020. He was initially charged with eight counts, including assault with a deadly weapon and battery.
He received a 45-day jail sentence and was placed on four years of probation, with a court order to complete domestic violence classes. The remaining charges were dropped following his plea. Panettiere had been granted a five-year protective order against Hickerson, which expired earlier this year.
Panettiere had previously spoken out about her experiences in a 2020 statement, expressing hope that her story would help others in abusive relationships. She wrote in her memoir that she did not want to be a spokesperson for domestic violence but acknowledged it was part of her story, detailing years of "mental illness, addiction, rage, abuse and pain."
In May, Hickerson discussed the domestic violence incidents with TMZ, referencing a story Panettiere wrote about in her memoir. He acknowledged being arrested for abusing her and stated, "You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line."
He recounted a specific incident described in Panettiere's memoir where he was drunk and threatened to throw a phone at her. Hickerson described being in a "dark place" involving drugs and alcohol at the time.