Wladimir Klitschko, ex-fiancé of the late actress Hayden Panettiere, has broken his silence following her death, expressing deep sorrow and a commitment to honoring her memory for their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
Panettiere passed away on Sunday, a week before her 37th birthday. An autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, though the official cause of death is pending.
Klitschko, 50, shared a family photograph on Tuesday, stating, "Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief... The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon."
He acknowledged Panettiere's significant role in his life and as the mother of their daughter. "Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya," he wrote. "She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."
Klitschko vowed to ensure their daughter remembers her mother positively. "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was," he stated. He also extended condolences to Panettiere's parents, friends, and fans.
Panettiere and Klitschko met in 2009, initially dating before splitting in 2011 and rekindling their relationship two years later. They became engaged in October 2013, and their daughter Kaya was born the following December.
In 2018, the couple separated again, but reportedly remained amicable. Panettiere later made the "difficult decision" to grant full custody of Kaya to Klitschko, who moved their daughter to his native Ukraine. At the time, Panettiere was navigating postpartum depression and addiction, which she described in later interviews as a period where she "felt nothing" and had "turned to wine."
In a May interview with Jay Shetty, Panettiere discussed her decision regarding custody, stating, "I have been the one who sought it out, who was saying, ‘I desperately need help. I know this is going to look terrible, but I am. I cannot live like this anymore... It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse, and just me trying to find my way back."
She expressed her deep love for her daughter and pride in the young woman she was becoming, noting their continued connection through regular conversations. Panettiere also addressed the prospect of her daughter returning, stating in a May interview that by the time she felt healthy, it would have been "unfair" and "selfish" to disrupt Kaya's life in Ukraine.
Panettiere began her acting career as a child, gaining recognition for roles in "Remember the Titans," Pixar's "A Bug's Life," the superhero drama "Heroes," and "Nashville." Her film credits include "Bring It On: All Or Nothing," "Raising Helen," and the "Scream" franchise.