Hayden Panettiere's mom, Lesley Vogel, wants Brian Hickerson to be banned from the actress's funeral.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleAfter years of personal struggles, actress Hayden Panettiere passed away on August 16, 2026. She was just 36, and the news of her death was a shock to her fans and loved ones. She faced many problems in her life, and an abusive relationship with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was one of them. The actress had reunited with Brian two weeks before her death against the wishes of her loved ones.
As per recent reports, Hayden Panettiere’s mom, Lesley Vogel, is making sure to keep Brian Hickerson away from Hayden’s funeral. After Hayden’s sudden death, Vogel has voiced her hatred towards Brian, and now she is taking all measures to keep him away during Hayden’s final goodbye. As per a family source:
“Lesley is adamant Brian will not be welcome. She wants this to be about Hayden — not Brian, not their history and certainly not another circus surrounding her daughter.”
The source further noted that the situation is complicated because Hayden and Brian had an on-again, off-again relationship. But for Vogel, the ceremony was all about honoring her daughter, and she feels that Brian’s presence will only ruin the situation. Revealing how Vogel doesn’t want Brian near Hayden during the burial, the source mentioned:
“Her family couldn’t control whom Hayden allowed into her life. But they can control who is invited to say goodbye. Her mother sees this as one final chance to protect her daughter. Lesley wanted Brian out of Hayden’s life for years. She absolutely does not want him standing beside the family when they bury her.
After Hayden and Brian began dating in 2018, the relationship became a subject of public scrutiny when reports about their domestic violence incidents surfaced. On Valentine’s Day in 2020, cops alleged that Brian punched Hayden “with a closed fist on the right side of her face” at a private residence in Jackson, Wyoming. He was arrested in 2021 and was sentenced to 45 days in county jail. Apart from this, he was given four years of formal probation, 52 mandatory domestic violence classes, and a five-year restraining order.
A source close to Hayden Panettiere revealed that she secretly reconnected with Brian despite the restraining order and kept her friends in the dark about it for quite some time. A source close to the couple told Page Six that Brian was supposed to leave, but the two ended up on a flight to South Carolina, where he lives. But Hayden's close friends were not happy about her involvement with him, as they were certain he would drag her into another emotionally vulnerable situation.
After Hayden’s death, her mother, Lesley Vogel, spoke about the actress’ untimely death and blamed a ‘toxic individual’ for the same. Vogel didn’t directly name Hayden’s on-again, off-again ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. But the state of the couple's relationship was proof that Vogel was referring to him. For the unversed, Brian and his brother, Zach, were present with Hayden when she suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away. Her death remains under investigation, with an autopsy completed and toxicology testing still underway.
What do you think about Hayden Panettiere’s mom, Lesley Vogel’s decision to not include Brian Hickerson at the actress’s funeral?
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