Hayden Panettiere has been seeing a guy called Brian Hickerson for about a year. We first saw them out together looking tipsy last August, after the news came out that she’d split with her daughter’s father, Ukrainian boxing great Wladimir Klitschko. Then, in November, cops were called to Brian’s father’s home in Greenville, South Carolina on a report for an assault and battery. Hayden and Brian were there and had been drinking with his dad, who had injuries on his face. Brian had been chasing his father around and was uncooperative with police.
Earlier this year we heard that Hayden’s daughter Kaya, 4, had been living with her father and grandmother in Ukraine and that Hayden hadn’t seen her in four months. Hayden tweeted a photo that seemed to indicate she was visiting with Kaya shortly after that. The situation sounded sad but like it was amicable and that Hayden was ok it. I’m worried about Hayden though, after this news that her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was arrested for domestic violence against her last week.
Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend got hauled off to jail after their night out on the town turned violent at home … TMZ has learned.
Sources close to the situation tell us … the “Nashville” star and her BF, Brian Hickerson, were out drinking together in Hollywood Wednesday night before heading back to their pad. We’re told the couple had an argument that turned physical and, at some point, cops were called … it’s unclear by whom.
Police showed up around 2 AM Thursday, and our sources say they noticed redness and marks on Hayden’s body. After interviewing both of them, we’re told they determined Hickerson allegedly started the fight, and arrested him.
Law enforcement sources tell us he was booked for felony domestic violence. He was released later Thursday after posting a $50k bond.
Hayden isn’t on Instagram and she has an official Twitter account but she hasn’t tweeted since February. I am pretty sure that Brian used to be on Instagram as I remember him sharing a video with Hayden at some point, but I don’t think his account is public anymore. I’m just hoping that she’s able to get out of this relationship soon, that she has support around her, and that she’s ok. As we’ve seen with so many famous women lately, that doesn’t insulate them from abuse.
These photos of Hayden and Brian in black and blue outfits are from January. She’s shown out in a floral dress with him last August. Credit: Backgrid, Avalon.red and WENN
Seems like a variation on her Nashville character. Possible wellness issues which could explain the alcohol.
Agreed. She needs to get sober ASAP.
I don1t know, it’s not to blame Hayden, but I remember an article, here, in Celebitchy about issues with domestic violence in her relashionship with Wladimir; it was also subject to many blind items (no, I don’t buy everything in blind items but some times, they do point some ways). There was also a time in their relationship [with Wladimir], when they broke up and domestic violence was pointed as the reason. Her relatioship with her father has not ever been the best, seems like she mirrors her relatioships in that with her father. Anyway, I hope she’s fine. No matter what, no woman or man deserve to be even close to someone they love while being harassed, threatened or straight up phisically violated.
“and our sources say they noticed redness and marks on Hayden’s body…”
Going by past photos of Hayden that would be kind of normal for her. If he is violent and abusive and she takes him back she should get a media ban. He needs some prison yard anger management courses.
As a daughter of an abusive father, I was attracted to emotionally and physically abusive men. It wasn’t until my second divorce that I realized I was the common denominator. I went to therapy for at least 2.5 to 3 years before I started dating again. I am no longer attracted to those type of men.
She needs serious therapy otherwise she will keep ending up with the same type of men.
He’s lucky that baby’s in the Ukraine or he’d likely have a very angry boxer on his doorstep. I still kinda hope that might happen. May Hayden find the strength to leave immediately.
I think we all saw this coming, let’s be honest.
She’s in trouble. She’s centred her life on this guy, hasn’t worked in a year, and has no projects in the works. Add in addiction and depression and this could actually get much worse before it gets any better.
Yep. It was sadly only a matter of time. And I remember SO many people being outraged that her daughter was living with the father – because a daughter NEEDS a mother and only mothers can love children the best. Well, time to be thankful that the little girl wasn’t around for this.
100000%.
exactly, there’s a very good reason she isn’t living with her daughter. at least even hayden herself seems to realize it and isn’t fighting it like kelly rutherford, but she’s got to get help her, this is a really sad and ugly spiral.
Exactly. I’m very glad the young daughter is not in this situation.
I’m sad for Hayden, I hope she is able to leave and stay safe, and get whatever help she needs.
Wladimir Klitschko is one sexy beast. I hope he scares the hell out of this guy.
As a survivor of an abusive relationship myself, i can tell you that until Hayden makes a committment to herself and decides to stop taking this dude’s crap, then there’s not much anybody else can do including the authorities or Klishcko (sp?). It took me 11 years to open up my eyes and realize i had allowed the violence to go on way too long. I grew a spine and fought back, granted, not physically, he was still a 260 lb, 6’4″ military trained man against me, a 5’4″ 130 lb woman. But i went to the authrities and they were ready to help. Once my abuser saw me determined to fight back to the full extent of the law and he found out i got a gun carry permit, then things started to change. He knew i was ready to fight back. Let me tell you, he has a lot of healthy fear of me now.
@TomorrowIsTooLate Your and my story sound near-identical. So glad we both got out.
Strangulation is the WORST.
You were lucky. Statistically speaking, the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is the few weeks after leaving. Every relationship is different. Saying that someone should “grow a spine” and do this or that isn’t a whole lot different from saying “why doesn’t she just leave?”
People who are abused cannot always count on law enforcement. Abusers frequently have no respect for restraining orders. An abused person may have no access to money, may have children or pets or other dependents they are protecting. Many communities have limited or no shelter accommodations.
I also am an abuse survivor. My ex threatened my family and actually tried to kill our dog in front of me. (To hurt me – fortunately, he backed off at the last second.) I took his threats seriously. I also knew that law enforcement in the community I lived in then wasn’t entirely reliable. It took a lot of time and planning to get myself out of that mess.
Laura is right. It’s a personal journey and Hayden should really consider sobering up as a first step towards healing IMO.
Yes abusers often dont care about restraining orders. My abusive ex called me the minute he walked out of the court house after he was convicted of domestic violence against me. Nothing stops these type of people – they lack self control and can’t regulate their emotions.
At Jadedbrit, strangulation does suck. I couldnt swallow and I lost my voice from it, couldnt move my neck for a week. Strangulation is also a signal the abuse is reaching a crescendo – i was told statistically speaking, you’re chances of being murdered by your partner increase ten fold once they strangle you.
Seriously, what a downgrade.
She needs an intervention before it ends in the most horrible way. I know she has always struggled with her mental health and alcohol abuse and she seemed better for a while. She needs to get the hell away from this guy who is only going to leech off her.
I have always rooted for her and I hope she finds the strength to walk away. If half the rumours about how the entertainment industry and her parents treated her are true it explains a lot.
I am a bit disturbed that people seem to want her boxer-ex to “sort this out” or “scare him”. This woman is currently unable (and possibly unwilling) to be a fully present mother…and people want him to risk jail time for some sort of soap opera cliche white knight act? Great, so then the child has neither parent.
He needs to be encouraging of her to get help, leave, and sure, help her find a safe place. Otherwise his job is to be the only fully present parent this child has.
I completely agree, it is not Klitshcko’s job to guard her. She is an adult woman, yes she needs help but she needs to learn that she must be her own advocate. There’s help and plenty of resources, but she needs to take the first step to get out of it. If she doesn’t want this abuse cycle to end nobody else can change it, they’d be losing their time and maybe end up being blamed for the circumstances. That’s why authorities can’t do much when someone else reports abuse where adults are involved. It has to be the victim who starts the process, only then can authorities help.
+1
This woman refuses to get better. Her patterns are endless and she should see now where she needs to prioritize her own health in order to make better choices. I grew up in a violent household completely instigated by my father, and once my mother finally left, I would have judged her to to this day if she continued to seek and justify the same treatment from her new partners. I know Hayden is a victim, but she needs to take ownership of her choices and learn to make better moves. I sigh with exhaustion right now over this news.
She was pretty open about having postpartum depression after having her daughter. Obviously there are still issues…alcohol & an abusive relationship definitely aren’t the answer. Hopefully her family can help her get help.
I always enjoyed her campy character on Nashville….
This is horrible and I hope she gets away from him ASAP. I have a bad feeling she won’t though and we will see a rinse and repeat of this for a while.
I get the sense that they are both physical with each other when they drink. I’m not justifying anyone’s behaviour here, just saying that I think they hit each other, throw stuff, etc when they fight.
Glad her child is safe and not involved with this mess whatsoever.
She was very stupid to let Wladimir go. No idea what he ever saw in her. She will never do better, not even close.
Also, I’ve seen several people in the comments doing it—please don’t call it “the Ukraine”, it’s really quite offensive. It’s a sovereign nation. It’s just Ukraine.
He beat her too, so f off with your talk of her never doing better.
She has a bad guy picker, that’s obvious. She needs therapy to change that.
I have a feeling that her drinking and behavior while drinking is what caused her and Vlad to split, and what also enabled him to take their daughter to Ukraine. Her drinking and behavior isn’t even relatively new. I hope she takes care of herself and cleans her act up – if not for herself, but for the sake of her child.
Wow her life has fallen apart. All the money and opportunity in the world and this is her life.
I still find it appalling she gave up her daughter. Also – why should or would her ex come to her defense? It seems she has done him and their daughter dirty by completely abandoning them both. He owes her nothing at this point and if I were his friend/family I would urge him to stay away from Hayden’s toxicity. She is a vortex of drama and why should her ex get dragged down into her drama.
Hollywood and fame really destroys people!
Why is it so bad that she has her child with family that have the little one’s best interest at heart? We have known for years about her issues starting with her parents? The one positive Hayden has done is for that child to be with the responsible parent.
I think they are making the best out of a very bad situation.
She’s a mess. I hope she gets help.