The late actress Hayden Panettiere reportedly took measures to prevent her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson from attending a promotional event for her memoir earlier this year. Panettiere allegedly gave specific instructions to a Manhattan Barnes & Noble store where she was set to appear in May to promote her book, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," directing that Hickerson not be allowed on the premises, according to The New York Times.
Panettiere had private security guards present during the event, two sources with direct knowledge of the tour told the Times. The report comes in the wake of Panettiere's death on August 16, which officials are investigating as a suspected drug overdose. She died at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
Hickerson's attorney, Sloan Ellis, stated that the investigation into Panettiere's death is ongoing and that police have confirmed no signs of foul play. "Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time," Ellis said in a statement.
Hickerson and Panettiere, who had been linked since 2018, had a tumultuous relationship that included a domestic abuse conviction for Hickerson. In April 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of domestic abuse after initially facing eight charges in Los Angeles in July 2020. These charges included assault with a deadly weapon, battery, and corporal injury. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and four years of probation, with a court order to complete domestic violence classes. The remaining charges were dropped following his pleas.
Panettiere had been issued a five-year protective order against Hickerson, which expired earlier this year. In a statement released in 2020, Panettiere expressed a hope that her experience could serve as an example for others in similar situations. "I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me," she said, "in the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve."
In her memoir, Panettiere wrote about her experiences, stating she did not want to be a "spokesperson for domestic violence" or a "victim," but acknowledged it was part of her story. She described years of "mental illness, addiction, rage, abuse and pain," noting that "the slaps become hits."
In May, Hickerson spoke to TMZ about the past instances of domestic violence, referencing stories detailed in Panettiere's memoir. He acknowledged being arrested for abusing her and expressed understanding if her friends were angry with him. "You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line," Hickerson stated.
He also recounted a specific incident detailed by Panettiere, where he was drunk and threatened her with a phone. Hickerson described himself as being in "such a dark place" due to drugs and alcohol. Panettiere was 4-foot-11. He added, "Who wants to read something about themselves, right? But you gotta be vulnerable and I did it."
Panettiere's father, Skip, announced her death on August 16, calling her an "incredible light and a force of nature." Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, responded to a report of an unresponsive female, which was subsequently identified as Panettiere. Lifesaving measures were attempted before she was declared deceased. Officials stated that their investigation into her death found no signs of trauma or foul play.