Hayden Panettiere has recently opened up about how she handled the loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere. Jansen, who was only 28 years old, died suddenly in February 2023 in his New York apartment due to an undiagnosed heart condition.
The family later revealed in a statement that he had suffered a cardiomegaly, also known as an enlarged heart, coupled with aortic valve complications.
In the actress’s first interview since her brother’s passing, Hayden told People Magazine that losing her only sibling felt like losing half of her soul. She said that the bond between them was incredibly strong, and his death has left a void in her life that she is still trying to navigate.
“I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss,” she said during her cover story.
Hayden Panettiere revealed that she experienced overwhelming stress and grief at some point and this led her to gain weight rapidly. She also opened up about her struggle with agoraphobia, an intense fear of open or crowded spaces. This condition, which she had successfully managed in the past, became more and more challenging due to media attention.
The Paparazzi’s intrusive presence, even at Jansen’s funeral, worsened her anxiety and made it difficult for her to leave her home. “I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen’s funeral, which happened in a very private place, and it was shocking,” she said to People.
Fortunately, the “Heroes” and “Nashville” alumni have found a way to cope and start healing with the support of her personal trainer, Marnie Alton, who was introduced to her by her publicist. She mentioned that their sessions, which often felt like therapy, have gradually helped her rebuild her confidence and physical health. She expressed, “There’s nothing like looking in the mirror and feeling like you look good enough to walk out the door.”
The actress, who just turned 35, has had a lot of ups and downs in her life. Besides struggling with anxiety disorder, she had previously been admitted into rehab in 2015 and in 2020 due to her alcohol and drug addiction. In 2021, she entered a 12-month program and began trauma therapy to fight her depression and improve her mental health.
You can watch Hayden Panettiere discuss her healing process in an exclusive interview with People Magazine below.