Gayle King Admits She Sensed Hayden Panettiere Was Not Okay Before Her Death
Hollywood is still reeling from the sudden loss of Hayden Panettiere, the actress who first captured audiences as a child star before becoming a household name on ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville.’ The actor was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, and pronounced dead at the scene, with her father confirming the tragic news in a statement. The entertainment world has spent the days since sharing tributes and memories of the star, who was just 36.
Panettiere had spent much of the past year opening up more than ever before, releasing a candid memoir and speaking publicly about the personal battles she had long kept private. She appeared on ‘CBS Mornings’ on May 18 to promote that newly released memoir, titled ‘This Is Me, A Reckoning,’ sitting down for a wide ranging conversation with anchor Gayle King about mental health, acting, and motherhood. That interview would end up being one of her final television appearances before her death.
Now King is revisiting that day with a heavier heart. Speaking on Monday’s broadcast, King recalled that when Panettiere was in the studio and they spoke off camera, the actress insisted she felt she was in a good place. But the anchor did not fully believe it. As shown in a widely circulated post recapping the moment, King said Panettiere was ‘clearly still struggling,’ adding that waking up to the news of her death was ‘really tough.’
King did not stop there, offering more insight into what made that conversation so difficult in hindsight. She noted that Panettiere had described giving up custody of her daughter to her ex partner as one of the hardest things she ever had to do, even though the actress believed it was ultimately the best choice for her child. Panettiere’s memoir itself delved into her addiction struggles, the loss of her brother, and the years long journey that led her to that decision.
The custody arrangement dates back several years and has remained a defining chapter of Panettiere’s public story. In 2018, she relinquished full custody of her daughter, now 11, to former fiance and heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko amid her struggles with postpartum depression and substance abuse. It was a decision she had continued to reflect on publicly in the years since, framing it as an act of love rather than failure.
Panettiere’s death has also reopened painful memories of loss within her family. Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at age 28 due to complications from an enlarged heart, a loss she referenced in her memoir as one of the most devastating experiences of her life. Authorities in Greenville have said the preliminary investigation into her death has not indicated any signs of foul play, with the case remaining active and ongoing.
As fans continue processing the loss of an actress who grew up in front of the camera, King’s emotional reflection has struck a chord across social media, with many revisiting Panettiere’s final interview as both a warning sign and a testament to her honesty. What stands out most to you about Hayden Panettiere’s final on air conversation with Gayle King?
