Hayden Panettiere is talking about her mental and physical health after her recent viral interview left fans concerned about her health.
The “Nashville” actress appeared on Tuesday’s episode of “Today With Hoda and Jenna” when she was asked how she handles her “own mental health” while grieving the loss of her brother, Jansen Panettiere.
“I thought it would be easier. I thought that people would have empathy (and that) is the only thing there is, but I don’t know how my body, my mind will react to sadness,” he began the talk show.
“It’s wild what stress and grief and all these hormones running through your body can do. (They can) make you pass out,” he continued.
Panettiere added that grief “comes in many forms, so it’s nothing to be ashamed of or judged for.”
Panettiere, 35, appeared on the morning show just days after she first spoke in an interview with People magazine, in which she appeared to slow down and slur her words.
“It’s unfathomable that I’m in this position, but I feel compelled to deal with it in a place where I won’t be criticized for how fast or slow I speak,” she wrote in an Instagram caption Sunday.
Panettiere explained that she “didn’t sleep for two days before filming” because one of the dogs was “recovering from an emergency surgical procedure.”
“Whether I take medicine or not is nobody’s business and is between me and the doctor,” he added.
Panettiere admitted that she is still grieving the loss of her brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at the age of 28.
“The real issue here is the toxicity of social media, and the news cycle driven by clickbait. Mental health is so important, and I hope that readers now understand that what you say behind your computer screen can have a harmful effect on others, ” she said.
The “Hero” actress claimed that the shoot lasted for eight hours before she sat down for her scheduled hour-long on-camera interview.
However, shortly after the interview “started well,” her publicist “stopped the interview early” when it “became obvious” that she was “flooded” with “heavier” questions about her late sister.
“We asked the interviewer if we could do it again another day or do a follow-up interview about zoom. He assured us that it was not necessary, and he felt it was an emotional and sincere interview. We were also told that we would edit it and it would be a good piece,” he said.
Panettiere concluded her statement by thanking those who came to her “defense” as she continues to be a “work in progress.”
The “Remember the Titans” star released the statement days after a video of him talking about his daughter left fans concerned.
In the controversial clip, Panettiere appears to struggle to speak clearly and keep her eyes open. Fans and celebrities left thousands of comments discussing their disappointment in the video and urging People to remove the video.
The outlet has yet to complete the interview, but a source previously told Page Six that Panettiere was “cooperative” with the team at the time.
Panettiere has previously discussed his past battles with alcoholism and opioid addiction, but his publicist assured Page Six that his client was “not under the influence” during the interview.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call SAMHSA’s help line at 1-800-662-HELP.
