Skincare brand Neutrogena admits it ‘made Hayden Panettiere feel unsupported’ after late actor’s claims spark boycott calls

Neutrogena, a skincare brand, has admitted to making actress Hayden Panettiere feel unsupported during a difficult time following her claims that the company ended its partnership with her due to her public discussion of postpartum depression. Panettiere, who passed away at the age of 36, detailed the end of her decade-long relationship with Neutrogena in her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

The company expressed deep sadness over her passing and stated that they are proud to have partnered with her but regret making her feel unsupported. They clarified that the company's stance is not in line with Neutrogena's values and who they want to be. Panettiere claimed that Neutrogena canceled her contract after she discussed receiving treatment for postpartum depression in 2015, citing a morality clause in her contract.

She had previously spoken about her diagnosis on Live! with Kelly and Michael in 2015. Neutrogena's social media pages saw a surge of critical comments following the release of her memoir, and boycott calls resurfaced after her death. Panettiere elaborated on the incident during an appearance on Jay Shetty's podcast, explaining that she was told speaking publicly about postpartum depression had breached a morality clause in her contract.

She emphasized that her intention was to share her truth and that she was not seeking any negative reaction. Neutrogena acknowledged that they made a mistake and promised to make a significant investment in a long-standing community health partner to support women's health. The company also expressed their condolences to Panettiere's family and loved ones, stating that they did not want to speak out so soon following her passing.