Hayden Panettiere's death came as a massive shock. However, amid that, one person has garnered immense attention, and that is the actress' toxic on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleHayden Panettiere passed away from an alleged overdose-induced cardiac arrest on August 16, 2026. While the actress' sudden death itself was shocking for everyone, what further left them stunned was the fact that she had rekindled her romance with Brian Hickerson, with whom she had previously shared an extremely toxic relationship. And now, reports are rife that Brian has faced severe financial troubles for years after Hayden filed multiple domestic violence complaints against him.
Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, found himself in serious financial trouble following his 2020 arrest. A report by TMZ has revealed that Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy petition, filed by Brian on July 18, 2022, listed assets totaling USD 25,700 and liabilities totaling around USD 60,000. According to the petition, the actor alleged that he had a monthly expense of USD 1,246 whereas his average monthly income was zero.
In the petition, Brian Hickerson further listed his assets as a 1990 Ford Bronco with 160,000 miles. He alleged that it was worth USD 3,000, and further noted that he also owned an "inoperable" 2008 Toyota Prius worth USD 2,000, a Harley-Davidson worth USD 3,000, and a Chevrolet Silverado truck worth USD 8,000. According to the report, Brian said the truck was his dad's but was registered in the actor's name.
The petition further noted that the only other property he owned was an iPhone and a printer, both valued at USD 1,250. He revealed that he had USD 2,000 in clothing and USD 100 in jewelry. The paperwork further cited that the actor had USD 6,250 in his checking account. On the other hand, Brian Hickerson was in massive debt, including around USD 20,000 in credit card bills and approximately USD 18,000 in medical bills.
At the time, Brian Hickerson alleged that he started a new job at a staffing company but had only been there two weeks. The case was closed months later. However, the bankruptcy came years after his arrest. For the unversed, Brian alleged that it was all the aftermath of his arrest on charges of domestic violence against Hayden Panettiere.
Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson dated publicly from 2018 to 2022. However, their relationship wasn't the healthiest. Over the course of their relationship, Hayden had accused Brian of domestic violence against her multiple times. Even before her passing, she allegedly got back with the actor. Reports have alleged that the actress started seeing Brian two weeks before her death.
Their rekindled romance had left Hayden Panettiere's friends worried about her well-being as they believed that Brian Hickerson could drag the actress back into a "dark phase". TMZ sources revealed that the two were still together when she passed, and that she kept their romance a secret because her team told her not to be seen with him while promoting her book.
Talking about the actress's death, she passed away in a South Carolina apartment called the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville on August 16, 2026. Reports have alleged that Brian Hickerson was asleep in another room when the actress allegedly suffered a cardiac event. Later, Brian's brother, Zack Hickerson, found Hayden Panettiere unresponsive in the living room and called 911 before waking up his brother. Unfortunately, despite the best medical efforts, the actress passed away the same afternoon.
What are your thoughts on the new revelation about Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson's relationship? Let us know.
Next Read: Lindsay Clancy's Ex-MIL Says She Was Terrified And 'Begged For Help' For Months Before Kids' Murder