Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence on the star’s death.
The Heroes actress died on Sunday – just a week before her 37th birthday – with an autopsy showing ‘no signs of trauma’, although her official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
She shared her daughter with Wladimir, 50, and in 2018, when Kaya was just three, she signed over full custody to her ex, who moved their daughter to his native Ukraine amid Hayden’s battle with postpartum depression and addiction.
He shared a sweet photo of the family in happier times on Tuesday morning, writing a caption: ‘Our family is going through a time of deep shock and sadness…
“The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden, although no longer my partner, was an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya…
Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence on the star’s death
He shared a sweet photo of the family in happier times and added a caption: “Our family is going through a time of deep shock and sadness.”
‘She built an incredible career through tremendous talent, while also facing the dark sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives…
‘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. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so quickly…
“I ask everyone to respect our family’s feelings and privacy at this incredibly difficult time. For now this is all I want to say…
‘Thank you to everyone who has supported my family and expressed their sincere condolences…’
“Rest in peace, Hayden. May you find eternal peace.”
Following their divorce in 2018, Hayden announced she had made the “difficult decision” to sign over full custody and Kaya subsequently moved to his native Ukraine.
The Heroes actress passed away on Sunday – just a week before her 37th birthday – with an autopsy showing ‘no signs of trauma’, although her official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
The highly publicized decision came after Hayden fell into a deep depression — which she said she “felt nothing” — and led to her “turning to wine” and eventually being sent to rehab for both depression and substance abuse.
In her last interview in May she spoke with Dear Mome about her choice, saying, “It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a very challenging time in my life.”
She told Jay Shetty on his On Purpose podcast in May, “I’ve been the one looking for it and saying, ‘I desperately need help.’ I know this is going to look terrible, but it is. I can’t live like this anymore…
“The idea that anyone would think I would just give my child away and be okay with it is heartbreaking. It couldn’t be further from the truth…
The highly publicized decision came after she fell into a deep depression – which she said she “felt nothing” – and led to her “turning to wine” and eventually being sent to rehab for both depression and substance abuse.
“It became a horrible cycle of years of battling depression, anxiety, alcoholism and substance abuse, all while trying to find my way back.”
In her conversation with Dear Mome about her daughter, saying, “I love my daughter, and I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini me.’
Hayden discussed the prospect of bringing her daughter back, insisting she wouldn’t want to take her away from her ‘incredible’ life in Ukraine.
She said, “By the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair and selfish of me to try to pull her from this life she had created.”
