Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Hayden Panettiere defends giving up custody of her daughter despite intense ’emotional pain’
Actress Hayden Panettiere has spoken about giving her ex-fiancé, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, full custody of their daughter, calling it the most painful decision of her life. She addresses the choice in her new memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," explaining that she recognised she was in too poor a state, likely referring to her well-documented struggles with mental health and substance abuse, to properly care for the child at the time.
Her daughter, Kaya, is now 11 years old and has lived primarily with her father since 2018. Panettiere, known for roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," told Fox News Digital that she has come to terms with the decision despite the intense emotional pain it caused her, framing it as an act made in her daughter's best interests.
In short
- Hayden Panettiere gave ex Wladimir Klitschko full custody of daughter Kaya
- Daughter, 11, has lived with father since 2018
- Panettiere calls it her most painful decision, detailed in new memoir
Explained simply
Hayden Panettiere is an American actress best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville. In 2018, she transferred full custody of her daughter, Kaya, to the child's father, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, following the couple's separation.
Panettiere was going through significant personal difficulties at the time, including struggles with mental health and substance abuse. She has explained that she made the custody decision because she recognised she was unable to provide the level of care her daughter required.
Kaya is now 11 years old and has been living primarily with her father for the past eight years. Panettiere has recently discussed the custody arrangement in interviews and her new memoir, describing the emotional toll it has taken on her whilst defending it as having been the right decision for her daughter's welfare.
Art Culture Health Mental Health World