“Thanks, mom, for nothing”: Gayle King slams Hayden Panettiere’s mother as Lesley Vogel blames “toxic individual” for estrangement from daughter

Gayle King has slammed Hayden Panettiere's mother Lesley Vogel for her comments as she attributed her estrangement with the late actress and her death to a "toxic individual."

The CBS Mornings host addressed the former soap opera actress' remarks on the August 19 episode of the morning show while discussing Panettiere's death on August 16 at her Greenville apartment. King read portions of Vogel's remarks and said:

"You know, guys, you read this and all I can think is, 'Thanks, Mom, for nothing.'"

Recalling Panettiere's May interview, during which the actress characterized their relationship as complicated and “a work in progress.” King added:

"It makes me so sad that, of the opportunity that you have after your daughter's death, that that's what you choose to leave us with."

King made the comment in the presence of co-anchors Kelly O’Grady and Vladimir Duthiers. Duthiers agreed and called Vogel’s remarks “unseemly,” noting that Panettiere had publicly acknowledged her own struggles and could no longer respond.

How did Hayden Panettiere's mother Lesley Vogel respond to backlash?

Following the backlash on her comments regarding her daughter, Hayden Panettiere's death, Vogel issued a statement to Entertainment Tonight. She stated that their estrangement was not due to a lack of care or love but rather the influence of a "toxic individual," whom she blamed for contributing to her daughter's tragic end. "

Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death."

Vogel added:

"Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful.”

Vogel did not name the individual, but she has previously accused Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. In an interview with NBC News, Vogel has stated that she and the father of the Heroes star had been concerned about Hickerson enabling Panettiere and that he was with her at the time of her death. Vogel said that Hayden Panettiere had "lost her way" and wished she had stayed true to herself.

Holding Hickerson responsible for Hayden Panettiere's death, Vogel told NBC News that "this person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson."

Vogel continued to reflect on the circumstances revolving her daughter's death and said:

"I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and...young people who grow up in the entertainment industry – it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it's not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path...it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different."

Vogel and Panettiere had a strained relationship. Since the beginning of the Ice Princess actress' career, her mother acted as her manager. Their relationship was primarily business-oriented and when Panettiere tried to sever their professional ties she was met with a dismissive response from her mother, who reportedly told her "You owe me."

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Hayden Panettiere's official cause of death has not yet been determined, but reports indicated that she was found unresponsive in cardiac arrest, with 911 dispatch audio suggesting a possible overdose. According to the medical examiner's office, an investigation into her death remains ongoing.

After Gayle King's recent comments on Vogel's remarks on her daughter's death, Holly Robinson Peete has backed King's statement on X, saying that "she's not wrong", noting that Panettiere dealt with many issues. She argued that Vogel’s remarks lacked integrity because she did not take accountability “for the fact that you put her in the business that eventually messed her up.”

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