Who is Hayden Panettiere’s Ex-Boyfriend, Brian Hickerson?

Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend, is once again under scrutiny following her unexplained death in South Carolina. The pair flew from Los Angeles to Greenville, South Carolina, just one day before Panettiere was found unresponsive in a residence. Police found no evidence of foul play, but Hickerson’s presence before her death has reignited interest in their tumultuous past.

Hickerson, a South Carolina native, moved to Los Angeles to pursue real estate and acting. Their relationship, which began in 2018, was fraught with domestic violence allegations and arrests. In 2019, Hickerson was arrested for felony domestic violence charges after police found "redness and marks" on Panettiere's body. He served 45 days in jail and completed a batterer intervention program. Despite a restraining order, the couple reunited in 2021, with Hickerson claiming to have "made amends" with Panettiere.

Panettiere, 36, had recently been promoting her memoir, which detailed her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction, and her relationship with Hickerson. She was found unresponsive on August 16, and despite attempts at advanced cardiac life support, she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Local police confirmed that no signs of foul play were found, and the case is currently under investigation.

Panettiere’s only child, Kaya, 11, lives primarily with her father in Ukraine. As friends, family, and colleagues grapple with the news, Kaya’s future and her relationship with her mother's side of the family will likely become a central focus in the coming months.