Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Lesley Vogel Releases New Statement After Her Initial Remarks Sparked Backlash

Lesley Vogel has issued a follow-up statement addressing the backlash to her earlier comments on Hayden Panettiere's death. She specifically addressed the estrangement between herself and her late daughter.

Hayden Panettiere's mother Lesley Vogel has released a new statement after her previous remarks following her daughter's death sparked backlash among fans. In her latest message, she addressed her estrangement from the late actress.

Hayden Panettiere and mother Lesley attend Mercedes Benz Fashion Week held at Smashbox Studios on March 20, 2007 in Culver City, California. | Source: Getty Images

"Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love," Vogel said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. "It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death."

Vogel doesn't name the individual outright. However, earlier this week, she publicly criticized Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who was present in the apartment where the "Nashville" star died.

She continued, "Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful."

Hayden Panettiere with her mother Lesley Vogel on a yacht on Sydney Harbour on March 31, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. | Source: Getty Images

Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. An autopsy has already taken place, and toxicology results are still pending.

According to Vogel, a narcotics investigator has since been added to the police investigation into her daughter's death. "It leads me to believe there are still questions surrounding what happened," she said. "And I think we are all looking for answers."

"I hope all remember Hayden for the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth," she added. "My heart is with you, Hayden. Mama."

Lesley Vogel and Hayden Panettiere at Animal Fair's 8th Annual "Paws for Style" on June 11, 2007. | Source: Getty Images

Panettiere was 36 at the time of her passing. Two days after her death, Vogel spoke by phone with NBC News, offering a candid reflection on her daughter's talent as well as the pressures that come with growing up in Hollywood.

"I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle and it's a very challenging industry and it's not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path," she said.

She continued, "I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes."

Vogel also reflected on the earlier loss of Panettiere's younger brother, Jansen, who died unexpectedly at 28 in 2023. "I just feel that she's with her brother and they're at peace," she said.