Neutrogena has issued a statement apologizing for its past treatment of actress Hayden Panettiere, acknowledging that the company made her feel unsupported during a difficult period. The apology comes after Panettiere's death at age 36.
In a statement shared on its official Instagram page, Neutrogena expressed deep sadness over the loss of the "Heroes" actress, who had been a member of the Neutrogena community for over a decade. "This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be," the company stated.
Panettiere had previously claimed that Neutrogena canceled her long-standing contract after she spoke openly about her struggles with postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter in 2014. The actress died Sunday of an apparent overdose.
Neutrogena stated that Panettiere's courage in sharing her challenges helped inspire important conversations and awareness. To honor her legacy, the company announced it is making a significant investment to a long-standing community health partner. This investment aims to provide more women with access to support, including care for postpartum depression. Further details about this initiative will be shared as plans are finalized.