Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson had reportedly exchanged messages with a Greenville, South Carolina woman in the months before the Heroes star’s death.
Hickerson sent text messages and Instagram DMs to the 26-year-old woman, Page six reported Thursday after reviewing the exchanges.
The woman, who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity, told the outlet that she first crossed paths with Hickerson on March 28 at the Greenville bar Cat’s Pajamas.
The latest revelation comes less than two weeks after Panettiere died Aug. 16 at a Greenville home in what officials said was a suspected “overdose.”
It was not clear what the relationship status was between Panettiere and Hickerson at the time the woman said she had contact with Hickerson, as Page Six reported that it could not determine “if there was any overlap” in the time frame, noting that they were photographed at LAX Airport on March 2.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Hickerson’s lawyers and representatives of the late Panettiere for further comment on the story but has not yet heard back.
Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson had reportedly exchanged messages with a Greenville, South Carolina woman in the months before the Heroes star’s death, according to a new report. Hickerson and Panettiere pictured in 2018 in LA
The woman told the newspaper that she was “heavily drunk” at the time she claims she first crossed paths with Hickerson, and as a result “didn’t remember much of that night.”
The woman told Page Six that Hickerson followed her Instagram page on March 29 from his (since deactivated) account under the name @brianhickerson_.
The outlet reported that a message to the woman, sent from Hickerson’s account, read: “Wonderful to meet you last night, beautiful lady. I owe you a date. I’m going to [C]ity Tavern for a slushie, you should definitely go there.’
The woman told Page Six that she did not know who Hickerson was and that she had no “knowledge” of his link to Panettiere, as the outlet noted that she had seen text messages with a friend to support her statement.
On April 1, the woman responded to Hickerson and explained that her memory of the evening was limited, according to the outlet.
According to Page Six, she wrote, “Hey Brian! I’m sorry I missed this. I’m terrible with my inbox. I have to be honest: I don’t remember much from that evening. What happened?
“I’m sorry I missed your slushy invite, but I definitely wouldn’t have made it. Today is the first day since Saturday evening that my mind is clear again.’
Hickerson told the woman that she “didn’t seem too drunk,” Page Six reported, adding that he had gone out that night since his brother “was in town.”
Hickerson and Panettiere, who have been dating since 2018, had a stormy history in which he was convicted of domestic violence in connection with their relationship. Pictured in LA in 2019
According to the outlet, Hickerson told the woman she asked him to “take her on a nice date” — which “obviously throws Waffle House out the window” — and suggested he could take her to the Halls Chophouse eatery in Greenville.
According to Page Six, Hickerson wrote to the woman that he “just moved here from Los Angeles, so it was nice to meet a beautiful girl in Greenville out of the blue.”
“I also realized after reaching out on Instagram that you gave me your number so I’ll text you if that’s better.”
In response, the woman told Hickerson that she didn’t remember the details he shared with her, asking what part of the club they met in and how old he was, noting that she was 25 (at the time), according to Page Six.
The woman told Hickerson that she would “definitely prefer a proper meeting,” according to Page Six, adding that she won’t be going to Waffle House until “the 12th date,” with Hickerson noting that it was a “very intimate” place to go on a first date.
According to the outlet, Hickerson told the woman they initially met “in the middle of the dance floor.”
Hickerson, who has now turned 37, said of his age: “I’m 36, but I read at the level of 25-year-olds. Is that a deal breaker?’ Page Six reported.
The woman replied with an emoji indicating she was amused, according to the outlet, and said they should go to the high-end restaurant first and then, once they’ve known each other “for a while,” go to dinner at Waffle House.
The woman told Page Six that Hickerson had never discussed his relationship with Panettiere. Pictured in 2022 in LA
According to Page Six, Hickerson told the woman he found her “just as cute” as when they first met “yesterday” and then asked where she was from.
Hickerson told the woman he was “ten vodka sodas deep” and thought she was telling him she was from Alabama, according to the outlet, at which point she said she was from Greenville.
Hickerson told the woman that he “also” grew up in Greenville, according to Page Six, and then asked her where she went to school.
The woman told Page Six that she “stopped corresponding” with Hickerson because she had “lost interest in him” based on the age difference and lack of memory of their first meeting.
Hickerson then sent a series of text messages on April 2 and 4 to which the woman did not respond, Page Six reported, writing on the latter date: “I’m out of town for work until next Monday. So how about we start shooting for venues mid-week?’
That day, he also responded to an Instagram story she posted encouraging those who had no one to attend Easter Sunday services to contact her, the outlet reported.
According to Page Six, Hickerson said, “Luckily, you’re probably reading my mind, haha. I wanted to skip tomorrow because it was just me. Where are you going?’
Hickerson last texted the woman on April 14, according to the outlet, writing, “Hey, I’m back in town this week. When will I take you to Hall?’
The woman told the outlet that she did not respond to Hickerson, and the first time she heard his name since then was when news broke of Panettiere’s death.
She told Page Six: “I vaguely remembered the name and started scrolling through my direct messages.
The woman told Page Six that Hickerson had never discussed his relationship with Panettiere, pictured in New York in May
“The possibility that I had unknowingly become involved in a high-profile relationship, especially in these unfortunate circumstances, was beyond my comprehension.”
The woman told Page Six that Hickerson had never discussed his relationship with Panettiere; and after her death, she learned for the first time about his previous domestic violence convictions related to their relationship.
On August 20, Hickerson’s attorney Sloan Ellis said in a statement obtained by The Daily Mail: “Hayden’s death is still under investigation and it is important to continue that investigation.
“As has been publicly reported, police have confirmed there are no signs of foul play,” Ellis said. “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, no further comment will be made at this time.”
Hickerson and Panettiere, who have been dating since 2018, had a stormy history in which he was convicted of domestic violence in connection with their relationship.
Hickerson entered pleas of no contest to a pair of misdemeanor counts of domestic violence in an agreement in April 2021 after he was initially charged with eight counts of domestic violence — including assault with a deadly weapon, battery and bodily harm — in Los Angeles in July 2020.
He was given a 45-day jail sentence and four years’ probation by the court, which ordered him to take domestic violence classes after the no contest plea.
The other charges were subsequently dropped after the pleas and Panettiere was given a five-year protective order, which expired earlier this year.
Panettiere was pronounced dead on August 16 at a home in Greenville, South Carolina, where officials said a suspected drug “overdose” occurred. Pictured in 2022
Panettiere made a statement in 2020 saying she hoped she could serve as an example to others in a similar situation.
“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me,” she said, “in the hope that my story will enable others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve.”
Panettiere said in her memoir that she did not want to be a “spokesperson for domestic violence,” adding, “I never wanted to call myself a victim, but here I am.”
She said in the book: ‘It’s part of my story whether I want it to be or not. So I’ll lay it all out here: seven years of mental illness, addiction, anger, abuse and pain in just a few pages.
“You never forget the first time someone punches you, nor do you forget the last time… the punches become hits.”
Last May, Hickerson spoke with TMZ about previous incidents of domestic violence and abuse in his relationship with the actress, which she describes in her memoir.
“I got arrested for abusing her, and I can’t blame her friends for being mad at me, so I don’t really have much say in that,” said Hickerson, who was first linked to the late actress in 2018. “You never lay hands on a woman, after all.”
Hickerson described a gruesome story that Panettiere wrote about in her memoir.
He said, ‘There’s a story where I was drunk, right? Hayden was standing on the other side of the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, “Hayden, I’m going to give you ten seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you.”
The late actress was pictured promoting This Is Me: A Reckoning at a Barnes & Noble in Manhattan, where sources said she instructed the venue to keep Hickerson away
Hickerson continued, “Who wants to read about themselves, right? But you have to be vulnerable and I did that. So, I did it.”
He said he was in “such a dark place” with “drugs” and “alcohol”, adding: “Good Lord Almighty, she’s five feet tall on paper, six feet tall in real life.” I mean, come on.”
Panettiere’s passing was announced on August 16 by her father Skip, who said in a statement: ‘It is with deep sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.
“She was an incredible light and force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her on screen. We ask for privacy as our family takes the time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers responded to an area apartment on August 16 after receiving a report of an “unresponsive female” via a possible “drug overdose,” later determined to be Panettiere.
Officials, who attempted life-saving measures before declaring the actress deceased, said no signs of trauma or foul play were evident in their investigation into Panettiere’s death, which remains ongoing.
