⁠“You should never have had to experience the things you did”: Jay Shetty pens emotional tribute for Hayden Panettiere following her death at 36

Jay Shetty, the author and podcast host, paid a heartfelt tribute to Hayden Panettiere after the actress died at the age of 36. Shetty reflected on their deeply personal talk earlier this year, remembering Panettiere as someone who demonstrated remarkable courage despite the difficulties she faced throughout her life. Shetty wrote on X, paying tribute to the actress:

“You should never have had to experience the things you did.”

Jay Shetty reflects on emotional conversation with Hayden Panettiere

On August 18, Shetty posted a touching social media tribute to Hayden Panettiere, who featured on his On Purpose podcast in May to promote her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. Addressing the late actress, the podcast host wrote:

"Dear Hayden. I’ve been devastated and heartbroken since I heard the news. I’m in shock and have been processing for the past day on your legacy and our loss."

Shetty recalled that after shooting the interview, Panettiere told him the conversation had been healing for her:

"Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of sitting down with you on On Purpose. After the episode you told me it was truly healing. You said I was now like a big brother to you and that I helped you be brave."

However, Shetty insisted it was Panettiere who deserved that recognition, praising her resilience in the face of years of personal struggles:

"But Hayden, you were the brave one. You were courageous, resilient, and so incredibly strong through so many difficult moments in your life. You should never have had to experience the things you did."

He concluded his tribute by acknowledging Panettiere's impact on people around her:

"I hope you know how loved you are. How many people you helped. How your vulnerability moved others. My heart and prayers are with you, your daughter, your family, friends and fans. Rest in peace, Hayden."

Panettiere opened up about her childhood, addiction and motherhood

Hayden Panettiere's interview on On Purpose occurred just days before the launch of her memoir, in which she described many of her most painful experiences.

During the conversation, Hayden Panettiere discussed her upbringing as a child actor, confessing that she often struggled with her identity after spending so much of her younger years portraying different characters rather than having a regular childhood. She said:

"I really just wanted to fit in. I wanted to be normal. Like every kid."

She continued:

"Who am I? Which part am I? I can be all of these different characters, and I can find all these parts in me. … But who the heck was I? Like, just without this, who would I be without this?"

She also spoke about her tumultuous relationship with her mother and former manager, Lesley Vogel, revealing how their personal and professional lives became inextricably linked during her early career.

"She was my boss. That's how I saw her. And that was, you know, a tough pill to swallow."

Panettiere revealed that they were no longer in contact after quitting their working relationship while filming Heroes. She recalled telling her mother that she didn't want to work together anymore. She said:

"I just want you to be my mom."

To which her mother replied:

"You owe me."

It was only later that the actress realised her mother meant that she owed money. Panettiere revealed that she was very upset about how their relationship turned out.

The actress also addressed misconceptions about her daughter, Kaya, whom she has with her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko. She said that handing Klitschko custody in 2018 while she was struggling with addiction and postpartum depression was never about leaving her child, but rather about providing Kaya with stability while she worked on her sobriety. Hayden Panettiere said:

"The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking. Couldn't be further from the truth."

She continued:

"I did not have a good reaction to it. I went like mother lion. I would have burnt the world down for my child. So that was incredibly difficult."

Hayden Panettiere said she maintained a close connection with her daughter through regular visits and FaceTime, describing their bond as "intense" and "incredible."

Another emotional part of the interview focused on her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023. She called him her "rock" and stated she felt guilty about not being able to protect him when he was dealing with his own difficulties.

She spoke about Jansen, referring to him as her "other half":

"The other half that was born to be my yin to my yang. And we were so close, and especially being the older sibling whose job it is to protect them and keep them safe."

Panettiere continued:

"He was my rock. He was the only other person who fully understood everything about me."

Hayden Panettiere concluded, saying that she felt "like I failed to keep him safe was really hard."

Trending

The Heroes and Nashville star died on August 16. While authorities have confirmed her death, the official cause has yet to be determined. Tributes continue to pour in for Hayden Panettiere.

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.

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