Hayden Panettiere’s Estranged Mom Says ‘Haters’ Don’t Have a Right to Tell Her How to Mourn

Lesley Vogel, estranged mother of late actress Hayden Panettiere, recently appeared on "Good Morning America" to discuss her daughter's death and defend her right to mourn. Vogel expressed her numbness upon learning of Panettiere's passing at the age of 36, and acknowledged that the grieving process is ongoing. She specifically addressed the criticism she has received, stating, "I think it will probably hit me later on," and firmly told her detractors, "you don’t have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child. That’s my domain."

Vogel shared her personal experience of losing her son Jansen Panettiere in 2023, who died from heart complications at the age of 28. She emphasized the importance of inner strength, saying, "I think you just have to find that inner strength. I have been knocked down throughout my life, and I am not complaining, because I have the strength to get back up."

Vogel's stance on her family's estrangement during Panettiere's death was that she holds Brian Hickerson, her daughter's ex-boyfriend, responsible for the tragic outcome. In the aftermath of the incident, Vogel also criticized her daughter for her career decisions, sparking backlash from Gayle King. Despite this, Vogel reaffirmed her criticisms of Hickerson in her "GMA" interview and addressed her daughter's account of the moment she informed her that she no longer wanted her managing her career.