Wladimir Klitschko, the former fiancé of actress Hayden Panettiere, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram on what would have been her 37th birthday, thanking fans and friends for their support since her death. He wrote that rather than celebrating as planned, he was honouring "her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world," and urged followers to "think about LOVE," reach out to others and "be kind."

Panettiere, best known for roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, died on 16 August aged 36 after being found unresponsive in cardiac arrest at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. She and Klitschko dated on and off from 2009, got engaged in 2013 and had a daughter, Kaya, now 11, before separating in 2018; Klitschko later gained sole custody amid Panettiere's struggles with postpartum depression and addiction, detailed in her 2026 memoir. The coroner's office has said her body showed no signs of trauma, but an official cause of death has yet to be announced.