How did Vladimir Klitschko react to Hayden Panettiere's death?

Klitschko bid an emotional farewell on Instagram, expressing deep sorrow and promising that their daughter Kaya will remember her mother with respect.

When did Hayden Panettiere and Vladimir Klitschko meet?

According to the BBC, they met in 2009 at a party in Los Angeles, while Hype TV reports it was in 2008.

How long did their relationship last?

Their relationship, with breaks, lasted nearly a decade and finally ended in 2018.

What was the cause of Hayden Panettiere's death?

The cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and police reported no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

Music

Vladimir Klitschko Says Goodbye to Hayden

G.L. · Prije 2 dana | 4 min

Former world boxing champion addresses the public with an emotional Instagram message following the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, mother of their daughter Kaya.

Summary

Hayden Panettiere passed away on August 16 at the age of 36.
Vladimir Klitschko bid an emotional farewell on Instagram.
The couple had a daughter, Kaya Evdokia, born in 2014.
Their on-and-off relationship lasted nearly a decade and ended in 2018.

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Retired Ukrainian boxer Vladimir Klitschko (50) bid farewell to his former partner, actress Hayden Panettiere, who passed away on August 16 at the age of 36, with an emotional Instagram post. Alongside a family photo, Klitschko wrote that his family is going through a period of deep shock and grief.

"The news of Hayden's tragic death has deeply saddened me. She left this world too soon. Although we were no longer partners, Hayden was an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter Kaya," Klitschko shared on Instagram. He added: "I will always speak of her mother to our daughter Kaya with respect and will ensure she remembers the person she was."

A Love That Began with a Joke

Panettiere and Klitschko met in 2009 at the launch of Diana Jenkins' photography book "Room 23." According to the BBC, they met at a party in Los Angeles, while Hype TV reports it was in 2008. Their first conversation started with a joke about their obvious height difference. Hayden, standing just 153 centimeters tall, recounted on The Ellen DeGeneres Show: "I said to him, 'You're huge.' And he said to me, 'You're tiny.' And that was it."

It was the beginning of a relationship that made them inseparable. Hayden was then at the peak of her fame thanks to the series Heroes, and Klitschko was one of the greatest boxing champions in the world. In September 2010, she was at ringside when he knocked out Samuel Peter in Frankfurt to defend his world title. Klitschko spoke of her with immense pride: "I am very proud of her." His brother Vitali Klitschko, also a boxer and now the mayor of Kyiv, said his younger brother was practically "floating on cloud nine."

Breakup, Reunion, and Daughter Kaya

After two intense years, they announced their split in May 2011. Hayden then said they had "incredible amounts of love and respect" for each other. In early 2013, their lives intertwined again, and she called their second attempt "version 2.0." In October of that year, she confirmed that Klitschko had proposed. They traveled together to Italy so she could hear designer Giorgio Armani's ideas for a wedding dress.

In December 2014, their daughter Kaya Evdokia was born. Klitschko told US Weekly at the time: "My life has completely changed. I am overjoyed to have Hayden. She is a wonderful mother." In an interview with Die Welt in April 2015, he added: "For years I wanted a child; I always dreamed of it. Now Hayden has given that happiness to me and us."

Fighting for Their Daughter's Well-Being and the Final Split

After the birth of their daughter, the actress faced postpartum depression and issues with alcohol. Klitschko helped her seek treatment, but when their daughter was three years old, he asked Hayden to grant him custody. According to the BBC, she reluctantly agreed. In her autobiography, she wrote: "Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life... I grieve that I'm not the mother I thought I'd be, and definitely not the mother I want to be. Trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime."

Despite everything, she emphasized that her bond with her daughter remained strong: "Despite it all, the bond I have with Kaya is incredibly strong." Their relationship finally ended in 2018, after which Kaya continued to live with her father in Europe.

Tributes from Colleagues and Friends

Following the news of her death, tributes poured in from numerous colleagues. Connie Britton, her co-star from Nashville, wrote on Instagram: "This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright. I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now." Masi Oka, her colleague from Heroes, posted on X: "I had the privilege of working closely with her, and I'll always remember her for her beautiful spirit, immense talent, and the joyful energy she brought to everything she did."

Beth Chamberlin, who played her mother in the soap opera Guiding Light, recalled her talent: "The things she could do, the way she could remember 20+ pages of dialogue, day after day... Hayden, never once forgot a line or missed her blocking." Justin Chatwin, her co-star in Sleepwalker, told People: "Hayden seemed different when I met her this time than when I met her in the early years... I could tell she was struggling... I also know that she was really lonely."

Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina, and police reported no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.