Hayden Panettiere has attempted to set the record straight following a recent interview in which fans questioned her manner of speaking, her mental state afterwards and her drinking habits.
Panettiere, 35, was criticized for slurring her speech in a video in which she spoke about a variety of topics, including her brother, who will die in 2023. The video has since gone viral.
“I want to take a moment to address the controversy surrounding my recent interview with People magazine,” she wrote on Instagram on Sunday. “I can’t believe I’m even in this position, but I feel compelled to speak about this in a space where I won’t be judged for speaking too fast or too slow.”
Hayden Panettiere develops agoraphobia and gains weight rapidly after brother’s sudden death
Hayden Panettiere has defended herself against online criticism. (Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic)
In a video interview with the outlet, the “Heroes” actress admitted that her slurred speech was due to fatigue and lack of sleep.
“I was unable to sleep for two days prior to filming due to one of my dogs recovering from emergency surgery,” she wrote. “The shoot was eight hours, followed by an hour of on-camera interview. The interview started off well, but for the record, the opening part was not included in the version published by PEOPLE.”
Hayden Panettiere opens up about her secret opioid and alcohol addiction: ‘I hit rock bottom’
“I was exhausted, and they stopped the interview early because it was obvious I was exhausted, especially as the topics got heavier. We asked the interviewer if we could try again another day or do a follow-up interview over Zoom.”
App users click here to view the post
Panettiere was “assured” that she would not need to do a second interview, and reportedly gave an “emotional and heartfelt interview.”
“I couldn’t sleep for two days prior to filming because one of my dogs was recovering from emergency surgery.”
“They told me they would edit it and that it would make a great article,” she said, noting that in accordance with industry standards, “magazines do not approve images or video interviews prior to publication. We see the interviews as they are published.”
Panettiere acknowledged that “everyone experiences grief differently” but said the decision about whether to take medication was “nobody’s business, it’s between me and my doctor.”
Panettiere assured him she had had a “heartfelt” interview. (Getty Images)
“I’m doing interviews to promote my new film because I’m proud of it,” she said. “The real issue here is the toxicity of social media and a news cycle driven by clickbait. Mental health is so important, and I hope everyone reading this understands that hiding behind a computer screen and talking can have a harmful impact on someone.”
Did you enjoy reading this? For more entertainment news click here
“I really appreciate everyone who has defended me through this turmoil. Like I’ve said before, I’m still growing, as are all of us.”
The Remember the Titans actress has spoken out for the first time about the death of her brother, Jansen, and she revealed that his passing in February 2023 has not only affected her health mentally, but also physically.
“When my brother died, my body did something I’d never seen it do before. Within a few days, it felt like it swelled up. It swelled up,” she says. “That’s what happens when you have stress and cortisol rushing through your body. I tried everything, from unhealthy to healthy, it didn’t matter what I ate or did. It was like my body was protecting itself, shielding me from the world.”
Hayden’s younger brother, Jansen, passed away in February 2023. He was 28 years old. (Amanda Edwards)
Click here to sign up for our Entertainment Newsletter
After the funeral, Panettiere said she suffered from agoraphobia and found it difficult to leave the house to see friends, so she was “surviving in sweatpants and T-shirts.”
“I was devastated. I wanted to keep working but I didn’t want to be miserable on set. I didn’t want to go to fittings, look at myself in the mirror and hate everything about how I looked,” she said.
Click here to get the FOX News app
With the help of a personal trainer and her own mental strength, Panettiere was able to face her issues head-on and has since been able to “let go of the stress and high expectations I put on myself.”
