Neutrogena has broken its silence on Hayden Panettiere’s death amid mounting criticism of the skincare brand over claims she lost her job with the company after publicly discussing her postpartum depression.
The company, which has faced social media backlash and calls for a boycott since Panettiere’s death on August 16,
issued a statement expressing regret and acknowledging the former brand ambassador felt “unsupported during a very difficult time”.
“We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere’s passing,” Neutrogena wrote.
“For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community. We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time.
“This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be.”
Criticism of the company intensified after comments resurfaced from Panettiere’s 2026 memoir and a podcast appearance, in which she alleged Neutrogena ended its relationship with her in 2015 after she spoke publicly about her postpartum depression.
Neutrogena announced plans to make a “significant investment” in a community health partner to improve access to support services for women, including postpartum depression care.
Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36 after she was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Heroes and Nashville star was pronounced dead at 2.32pm after emergency crews performed advanced cardiac life support for cardiac arrest.
She was discovered at a Greenville Airbnb by Zach Hickerson, the brother of her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson.
An autopsy found no signs of trauma but the official cause of death remains undetermined pending toxicology results and further medical studies.
However, a leaked 911 dispatch audio referenced a “suspected overdose”, while media reports said Narcan, an opioid overdose-reversal medication, was found at the scene.
Authorities have not confirmed whether an overdose contributed to her death.
Her death came three months after the publication of her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she spoke candidly about her struggles with addiction, postpartum depression and domestic abuse.
In the days after her death, Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, raised concerns about Brian Hickerson’s presence in her daughter’s life.
