In 2023, Hayden Panettiere was set to have a great year.
The actress had been clean and sober since early 2020 after spending time in rehab. She had also ended a tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend and was excited to return to work on ‘Scream VI.’
However, tragedy struck just three weeks before the film's premiere in February 2023. Panettiere's younger brother, Jansen, died unexpectedly at 28 due to an undiagnosed heart condition, leaving her devastated.
“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” she told PEOPLE. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.”
The 35-year-old actress struggled to leave her house, especially with paparazzi following her after his death. Seeing pictures of myself leaving Jansen’s funeral was shocking, she said. “My agoraphobia resurfaced, something I’ve struggled with before.”
Her grief took a physical toll, leading to rapid weight gain. “Stress and cortisol affected my body, and my self-esteem plummeted,” she explained. “I didn’t feel confident enough to go out, but I knew I had to keep moving or I'd never break the cycle.”
Despite the loss, Panettiere gained a new perspective. “When something this massive happens, you learn not to let the little things upset you,” she said. “After experiencing something so deep and catastrophic, there's not much that can really shake you.”
Looking forward to the release of her new movie ‘Amber Alert,’ Panettiere is grateful to feel more like herself each day. However, the pain of losing Jansen will always remain. “I will always be heartbroken. No matter how many years pass, I will never get over his loss,” she said.
In March 2023, Hayden Panettiere appeared on "Good Morning America" to promote her new movie "Scream VI," which marked her first interview since the passing of her brother. While speaking to host Michael Strahan, she became emotional after the mention of her brother, Jansen, who unexpectedly passed away last month at the age of 28-years-old. Strahan offered his condolences where Panettiere responded getting teary-eyed saying, "He’s right here with me."
The Panettiere family released a statement informing the public of Jansen's unexpected death saying, "Jansen's heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit," the family continued. "His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered." The statement concluded, "We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning. We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever." The statement also confirmed that Jansen passed away from an enlarged heart, but it is unclear whether the family was aware of this prior to his death. Like Hayden, Jansen also pursued a career in acting where he landed roles such as Even Stevens, Blue's Clues, Ice Age: The Meltdown and Robots, and Everybody Hates Chris. His most recent role was in The Walking Dead in 2019 before he shifted careers to be a graffiti artist in New York.
On what would have been his 29th birthday, Hayden took to Instagram to wish her little brother a happy birthday. She posted a throwback photo of the two of them with the caption, "Happy Birthday little brother. I miss you everyday. I’ll love you forever."
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Hayden recently took a four year break from the entertainment industry after dealing with postpartum depression and substance abuse. She has spoken openly about the tough decision she made to give up custody of her daughter to her ex, Wladimir Klitschko, who lives in Ukraine, while she was struggling mentally and with addiction. The actress spent some time in rehab to help with her alcohol and opioid addiction in 2015, just one year after her daughter was born in December 2014. She eventually took a step away from her role in 'Nashville,' deciding to spend the next four years focusing on her health and well-being.
