Brian Hickerson's first statement emerged after reports revealed that he was present with Hayden Panettiere in her final moments.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleHayden Panettiere's untimely death at 36 has sparked a nationwide stir. She passed away on August 16, 2026, leaving her loved ones heartbroken. It sparked immense curiosity regarding her cause of death. Amid that, it was reported that Hayden's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson and his brother were with her during her final moments, and cops visited the siblings' home as part of the investigation into her death. Amid that, Brian finally broke silence on the demise of his girlfriend.
Brian Hickerson has been under immense online scrutiny ever since it was reported that he was quite nonchalant during his late girlfriend Hayden Panettiere's final moments. On August 20, 2026, four days after her demise, he finally broke silence on the tragedy. Brian's official statement was conveyed by his lawyer to TMZ, sharing his grief over the loss of his on-and-off girlfriend. His attorney Sloan Ellis said that everyone should focus on Hayden's death investigation rather than pry into her personal life.
Sloan, on behalf of Brian, stressed that the police previously reported that there was no foul play involved in Hayden Panettiere's death. Notably, recent reports suggest that the police have not ruled out the possibility of criminal conduct in Hayden's death. Brian Hickerson's lawyer further requested privacy for the people close to the deceased during their time of mourning. Sloan Ellis' exact words were:
"Hayden's death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were 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."
As per recent updates, Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the scene when she was found dead in an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina. The update was mentioned in a police report and shared by NBC News on August 18, 2026. The report revealed that Zach was "very emotional" while emergency medical services professionals were "working on Hayden" and trying to revive her. However, her lover, Brian, reportedly wasn't visibly emotional at that time.
Brian Hickerson reportedly seemed to tear up only after his girlfriend was declared dead at the scene. The next day (which also happens to be a day before Brian's recent statement), the cops, who are investigating the death of Hayden, visited his family home in Greenville, South Carolina. Two uniformed police officers were reportedly seen outside Hayden's house on the morning of August 19, 2026.
One of them knocked on the front door while another walked up their driveway. As per a TMZ report, the Greenville Police Department paid a visit to Brian Hickerson's home as part of their investigation into possible criminal conduct in Hayden Panettiere's death. Notably, the autopsy revealed no foul play, and circumstantial evidence pointed to an overdose leading to her demise.
Nevertheless, the cops reportedly haven't ruled out the possibility of criminal conduct in Hayden's death. The police's recent visit to Brian's home might have been with the intention of questioning him regarding any circumstances that might be connected to Hayden Panettiere's "unexpected" death. Additionally, a law enforcement source told TMZ that Hayden's death investigation was triggered because it was "unexpected." They further added that the police were doing a parallel investigation with the coroner to determine the cause and manner of the late actress' death.
What are your thoughts on Brian Hickerson's lawyer's statements amid reports suggesting that he was present with Hayden Panettiere in her final moments? Let us know.
Also Read: Sam Naughton Dies, Meet His Wife Charlotte And Kids, All On Motorcyclist's Family Amid Fatal Crash