Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence on Hayden Panettiere‘s sudden passing.
The pair had an on-and-off relationship that spanned about nine years. In 2013, the Ukrainian boxer had put a ring on it, and a year later, they welcomed their daughter, Kaya.
Wladimir Klitschko and Hayden Panettiere officially called it quits in 2018 but continued to maintain their co-parenting relationship. That same year, the actress signed over her custody rights fully to her ex.
Klitschko put his feelings into words on social media, addressing the painful news of his ex’s death. His statement comes about two days after Panettiere passed away on Sunday, August 16, after being found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville.
The actress died at 36, and her shocking death has left many stunned, penning condolence messages on various platforms. “Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” the boxer’s post began. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon,” he continued.
Klitschko noted that although they were no longer romantically involved, the late singer was an “important part of [his] life” and that of their young daughter, Kaya.
He stressed that her memory would live on, as nothing will erase the moments they shared, and Panettiere remains irreplaceable in their lives. Fans shared their thoughts and prayers for the father-daughter duo in the comments with comforting words.
The Heavyweight Champion Promises To Keep Panettiere Alive In Thoughts
5Klitschko’s X post touched on his late ex’s achievements in the industry. He praised her talent, noting that she was faced with the “darker sides of a very demanding industry.”
To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” the professional boxer wrote before extending his condolences to other important people in the “Nashville” star’s life, including her parents and friends.
The dad of one’s emotions could be felt through his words. “Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon,” he penned before asking for privacy to navigate this difficult chapter of life.
Klitschko also expressed gratitude for all the kind condolence messages he’s received and the support fans have shown to their family. The athlete signed off his statement by wishing Panettiere eternal peace.
Inside Hayden Panettiere’s Previous Romantic Ordeals
5Panettiere previously opened up about her past relationships in her memoir, published earlier this year. “This Is Me: A Reckoning” covered her past, career, life, personal struggles with addiction, and more.
She was first romantically linked to Stephen Colletti for nearly two years, from 2006 till the end of 2007. After they broke up, she went on to date her “Heroes” costar, Milo Ventimiglia, with whom she had a huge age gap.
The actress had just turned 18 while her costar and boyfriend at the time was 30. They started as co-workers, became friends, and then dated from 2007 till 2009.
Panettiere met Klitschko at a party in 2008 but did not get involved with him till 2009. They broke up for the first time in 2011 and then got back together about two years later. PEOPLE shared that during their first split, the TV personality moved on to football player Scotty McKnight, but that relationship was short-lived.
The late actress and Klitschko rekindled their romantic flame in 2013 and even got engaged. They welcomed their only child together in December 2014, but after almost four years, they announced they had split up once again.
The Late Actress Opened Up About Her Toxic Relationship
5In her memoir, Panettiere detailed her relationship with Brian Hickerson, which began in 2018. She revealed that he was arrested multiple times for alleged domestic violence; however, she kept it all in because she was scared of how the public would react to the news.
Hickerson was slammed with a felony domestic violence charge against the mom of one in 2019. She also filed for a protective order against him, but the case was dismissed because prosecutors “could not secure a material witness.”
The following year, he was arrested again, and after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring Panettiere, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail.
In addition, USA Today reported that Panettiere revealed friction in her relationship with her daughter’s father due to a lack of understanding. This manifested especially while she was battling postpartum depression.
“He’s also a man [and] doesn’t have any sisters, so he really thought that I was doing it to myself and that I could choose to snap out of it,” she said of Klitschko in a previous interview.
Hayden Panettiere Reportedly Rekindled Love Flames With One Of Her Exes Before Her Death
5Panettiere’s death shone light on the possibility that her relationship with Hickerson was not completely in the dust. Despite the rough edges, domestic violence claims, and dealing with an abusive relationship, love seemed to find a way back into their hearts.
The Blast reported that the former lovers were spotted on different occasions after their supposed breakup, and a source close to Hickerson revealed that the two were together romantically before the actress’s death. He reportedly traveled with her to South Carolina a day before her unexpected death.
A different insider confirmed that the couple was dating, and their reported breakups were deliberately spread to protect the “Ice Princess” star’s career. They noted that her team advised her to keep their relationship out of the public eye because it would have been “bad for business.”
Will Hayden Panettiere’s other exes, like Wladimir Klitschko, make heartfelt tributes soon?