X-Men actress Anna Paquin has condemned Hollywood's treatment of underage talent while mourning the deaths of her fellow former child stars Hayden Panettiere, Daveigh Chase and Michelle Trachtenberg.
The statement comes after Panettiere, 36, was found dead from a suspected overdose last Sunday at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina. She had traveled there from Los Angeles the previous day with her on and off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
Paquin, 44, who began acting at nine and won an Academy Award at the age of 11 for her role in the 1993 period drama The Piano, reacted to the news on Friday. The day would have been Panettiere's 37th birthday.
"It's not a coincidence that so many former, specifically presexualized female, child 'stars' have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends," Paquin wrote on Instagram.
"We were not as protected by the 'systems' that look great on paper, as we are supposed to be said. RIP HP, MT, DC, and too many others."
"As an adult I've had the pleasure of working on productions where the welfare and mental health of young performers was handled incredibly carefully," Paquin added in a Saturday post. "Especially around material that was intense."
"It is possible to holistically look after the kids on set and tell complex and sometimes upsetting stories," she wrote. "It just has to be the top priority of the production."
Untimely deaths of child stars
Trachtenberg was found dead last February at the age of 39. Her death was confirmed to be from diabetes mellitus, which may have been a complication of a liver transplant she had the previous year following alleged issues with alcohol.
Chase died in June at the age of 35 from AIDS. Her death certificate listed chronic polysubstance abuse as a contributing factor.
Paquin offered support to others in the industry on her Instagram post.
"It's a strange small club we belong to and you are worthy of support no matter how our industry made you feel," she wrote. "Literally DM me. I believe you and I will stand by your side. You aren't alone. Let's have each other's backs. It might make public disclosure less terrifying."
Wladimir Klitschko tribute
Ukrainian boxing star Wladimir Klitschko, 50, who was previously engaged to Panettiere, also released a public statement on Friday.
Sharing a photograph of the actress, Klitschko wrote: "Today is Hayden's birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world."
"I want to thank all of Hayden's fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support," he wrote. "At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity."
"If you're reading this, I ask just one thing: Even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind," he added. "Love is a superpower. Use it."
"Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten," he wrote.
Klitschko first broke his silence on her death earlier in the week, sharing a family photograph and stating they were 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. 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," he continued. "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was."
"I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden's parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today," Klitschko wrote. "Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon. I ask everyone to please respect our family's feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say."
"Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences," he added. "Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace."
Greenville death scene
Public records show Hickerson is originally from Greenville, though it is unclear if the couple were visiting his family. Hickerson, who previously went to jail for abusing Panettiere, was at the scene with his brother Zachary when she was pronounced dead.
A Greenville police officer responded to the residence on Sunday afternoon and observed paramedics performing CPR. After attempting lifesaving measures, the emergency workers declared Panettiere dead at 2:31 pm.
A police report noted that the "patient did not seem to have any obvious physical reasons to be unresponsive." The Greenville County Sheriff's Office said on Monday that a postmortem examination found "no signs of trauma" that "would have contributed to the death."
Chief deputy coroner Shelton England said it was too early to discuss the drug overdose theory. Further investigations will take place to establish the official cause of death.
Narcan, a nasal spray used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was found on a mattress inside the property. It is unclear if the medication had been used to try to revive Panettiere.
Naloxone, the active ingredient in Narcan, blocks opioids like heroin, fentanyl, morphine and prescription painkillers from binding to brain receptors. It allows a person to start breathing again within two to three minutes and stays active in the body for 30 to 90 minutes.
Audio from a 911 call obtained on Monday revealed that the actress had gone into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose.
Micah Lee, a neighbor who lives in the Judson Mill Lofts complex where Panettiere died, said there was a commotion in the hallway after she collapsed.
"The halls are pretty hollow, so noise echoes throughout. And I had just heard about someone collapsing," Lee told WYFF. "And then afterwards there was talk about cardiac arrest. I can't confirm any of that. That's just what I've heard."
An attorney for Hickerson, Sloan Ellis, issued a statement on Thursday.
"Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," Ellis said. "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."
Mental health and custody
Panettiere and Klitschko met at a book launch in 2009. They dated for two years before splitting in 2011, and rekindled their relationship two years later. They were engaged in October 2013 and welcomed Kaya, who is now 11, the following December.
The couple split again in 2018 but remained on amicable terms. Later that year, Panettiere signed full custody of Kaya to her former fiancé, who moved their daughter to his native Ukraine.
The decision came as Panettiere battled postpartum depression and addiction. She said the depression made her "feel nothing," leading her to "turning to wine" and ultimately entering rehab for depression and substance abuse.
"It wasn't a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make," Panettiere said in a May interview with Dear Mome. "I was going through a really challenging time in my life."
She also spoke to Jay Shetty on his On Purpose podcast in May, saying she was the one who sought help.
"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,'" she said.
"The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking. It couldn't be further from the truth," she told Shetty. "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."
"I love my daughter, and I'm so proud of the young woman she is becoming," Panettiere added. "I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She's like a mini me."
She added that she would not want to take Kaya away from her life in Ukraine. "By the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair of me to, and selfish of me to try to pull her out of this life that she had been creating," she said.
Career in film and television
Panettiere began acting as a child in soap operas. She gained wider recognition playing Sheryl Yoast in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans opposite Denzel Washington, and voicing Dot in the 1998 Pixar animated film A Bug's Life.
She later found fame as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero television series Heroes. She also starred as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the musical drama Nashville.
Her role on Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, and her singing for the show produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Her other film credits include the 2006 film Bring It On: All Or Nothing, Raising Helen, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
A representative for Panettiere said her family would remember her as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her."
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement. "She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her, and to the millions who watched her onscreen."
He asked for privacy for the family as they "take time to process this unimaginable loss."
