Neutrogena apologises after Hayden Panettiere’s death and postpartum claims
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Neutrogena has apologised following the death of actor Hayden Panettiere, who was the skincare brand's spokesperson and ambassador for nearly a decade. The apology came after Panettiere's death sparked widespread online backlash and boycott calls against the company, stemming from her own account that Neutrogena had tried to end their partnership after she spoke publicly about her postpartum depression.
In an Instagram statement, Neutrogena said it was "deeply saddened" by Panettiere's passing and acknowledged it had "made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time," adding it would invest in a health partner to expand access to postpartum depression support. Panettiere had detailed in her 2026 memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," and in subsequent interviews that Neutrogena attempted to drop her over a "morals clause" breach after she discussed her postpartum struggles following the birth of her daughter, Kaya; she said the move was blocked at the time by her representative, who warned it would be illegal, though she believed the relationship effectively ended there. Panettiere's death remains under investigation, now involving the DEA, with police reporting no signs of foul play.
- Neutrogena apologised after backlash over Hayden Panettiere's death
- Panettiere alleged firm tried firing her over postpartum comments
- Company pledges investment in postpartum depression support services
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Neutrogena is a skincare brand that had employed actor Hayden Panettiere, best known for her role in the TV series Heroes, as a spokesperson and brand ambassador for around a decade during her most prominent years in Hollywood. Panettiere later spoke openly about experiencing postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, a condition that affects mood and wellbeing in some parents following childbirth.
Panettiere died recently, and the circumstances of her death are still being investigated by authorities, though police have said there is no indication of foul play so far. Following her death, attention turned to claims she had made in her 2026 memoir and in interviews, in which she said Neutrogena had tried to end their partnership after she discussed her postpartum depression publicly, citing a clause in her contract about personal conduct.
These claims prompted strong criticism of Neutrogena online, with some calling for a boycott of the brand, which led the company to issue a public statement responding to the situation. Its response, and the reaction to it, forms the latest stage of the story.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates of the public backlash argue that Panettiere's own account, given in her memoir and interviews, described a powerful corporate partner threatening to end a lucrative decade-long relationship specifically because she spoke openly about postpartum depression, invoking a morals clause against her own vulnerability rather than supporting her. They contend that whether or not she was ultimately dropped that year, the chilling message to other women, especially those in the public eye who might otherwise speak candidly about maternal mental health, was real and damaging, and that public pressure, including calls for a boycott, is a legitimate and proportionate way to hold a major consumer brand accountable for how it treats those who represent it during a health crisis.
The case against
Those more sympathetic to Neutrogena would point out that the company did not, in fact, terminate the partnership that year, that its statement expressed genuine sadness and acknowledged Panettiere felt unsupported, and that it has committed to a concrete investment in postpartum depression support rather than merely offering words. They would caution against conflating a contested, one-sided allegation from years ago with the tragic and still-unexplained circumstances of her death, noting that police have found no signs of foul play and that a DEA-involved investigation is ongoing, meaning it is unfair and premature to hold the company morally responsible for an outcome whose causes remain unknown.
More coverage
- The Hollywood Reporter — Neutrogena Responds to Backlash in Wake of Onetime Ambassador Hayden Panettiere’s Death
- The Hollywood Reporter — Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend Breaks Silence on Her Death
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Originally published by Variety as “Neutrogena Comments on Hayden Panettiere’s Death Amid Backlash and Says ‘We Made Her Feel Unsupported’; Actor Said the Company Nearly Fired Her for Talking About Postpartum”.