Who Is Brian Hickerson? Hayden Panettiere's Team Allegedly Wanted Her To Distance Herself From Him
According to a new report, Hayden Panettiere had reconciled with her ex, Brian Hickerson. But they kept it private to protect her career.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleHayden Panettiere's sudden death at 36 has been a major blow to fans. Just a few weeks ago, she shared how she was personally struggling, but hopeful for a brighter future. However, before things could get better, she has bade farewell to the world. Meanwhile, a new report has suggested that the actress had rekindled her romance with her ex, Brian Hickerson, before her death. Although fans thought they had parted ways, sources claim that they remained together. Yet they kept it quiet at the request of Hayden's team.
Why did Hayden Panettiere's team ask her to publicly distance herself from Brian Hickerson?
According to a recent report from TMZ, Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson reportedly continued their romance in private. In fact, they were even together when the actress was promoting her memoir. This Is Me: A Reckoning. It was just a couple of months before her death, suggesting they stayed together during her final days. However, insiders alleged that her team members asked her to publicly distance herself from Brian.
Hayden's team made the call due to the larger controversy around their relationship. The whole concern stemmed from Brian's past legal troubles. His actions had made him and Hayden subjects of public scrutiny for years. Now, sources claim that Hayden's team believed their bond could negatively impact the response to her memoir. Moreover, it could distract people's attention from her deeply personal stories to Brian's actions.
Still, despite their low profile, insiders mention that Hayden and Brian were in frequent contact. They also continued to spend time together away from the public. The reports even mention that people close to the couple were aware that they were still together while headlines claimed otherwise.
For those unaware, Brian Hickerson hails from South Carolina. He initially worked in real estate before transitioning into acting in Los Angeles. Although he has some minor acting credits, he eventually rose to fame for his relationship with Hayden. They first began to see each other in 2018, and it quickly got attention.
Soon, the relationship became a subject of public scrutiny when reports about their domestic violence incidents surfaced. Later, in 2021, Brian pleaded no contest to two felony charges related to injuries to a spouse of a girlfriend. Therefore, he was sentenced to jail time, probation and a restraining order.
After several years, when Hayden Panettiere released her memoir in May 2026, she shared more light on that past. She acknowledged that she faced both emotional and physical trauma during that phase. The actress also pointed out that her relationship with Brian led to some of her mental health and personal struggles.
In her book, Hayden clearly wrote about the incidents of her alleged abuse, which turned into a cycle of pain and reconciliation. In turn, she was unable to get out of it for a long time. She also mentioned her challenges with addiction, postpartum depression and living under constant attention.
Meanwhile, sources close to Brian allege that the reports about their breakup were often exaggerated. In fact, they remained together for much longer than everyone knew. At the same time, Brian admitted that he had made some serious mistakes and that violence against women was unacceptable. Now, he has deleted his Instagram after getting backlash over her death.
All about Hayden Panettiere's final days and death at 36
Hayden Panettiere died on August 16, 2026, after being found unresponsive in an Airbnb, located in Greenville, South Carolina. As per some reports, she was in cardiac arrest and emergency responders were called for the same. However, she was pronounced dead after their arrival.
Some news outlets got hold of the dispatch audio, which referred to a possible overdose. They also claim that Narcan was found at the scene. But it is important to know that authorities confirmed there were no signs of trauma or foul play in her autopsy. Still, the official cause and manner of her death will be confirmed only after some more test results arrive.
The same reports also mention that Brian was also present in Greenville at the time of her death. But the authorities have not linked him to the situations around her death. Instead, they have highlighted that there was no hint of any suspicious activity.
Rest in peace, Hayden Panettiere.
Pic credits: Hayden Panettiere/ Instagram, Brian Hickerson/ Instagram
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