Hayden Panettiere security ‘told to bar Brian Hickerson before her death’

Hayden Panettiere is said to have instructed her private security to keep her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson away from her during the promotional tour for her memoir – three months before he was present at the South Carolina property where she died.

The Heroes and Nashville actor, who died at 36 on August 16, had been involved with Brian, 37, since 2018 and wrote about their turbulent relationship in This Is Me: A Reckoning, published in May.

According to a New York Times report, Hayden’s security team received “clear instructions” to keep Brian away during her book tour, while the Barnes and Noble store in New York City’s Union Square hosting its opening event was apparently specifically instructed not to admit him.

The first event took place on May 19, when Hayden was promoting a memoir in which she wrote about her experiences with childhood fame, addiction, motherhood and domestic abuse.

The instruction to security was reportedly explicit, with the Union Square store receiving “specific instruction” to “not let in a man named Brian Hickerson”.

Despite the precautions surrounding the book tour, Brian was at the Greenville residence where Hayden was found unresponsive three months later.

A police report confirmed Brian and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the property when emergency services responded on August 16.

Officers reported no obvious physical explanation for Hayden being unresponsive, while an autopsy subsequently found no signs of trauma.

Police have said there were no signs of foul play and the cause and manner of her death remain under investigation.

Brian showed police a bag containing medication Hayden had been taking, according to the report.

Zach was described as visibly emotional as emergency workers attempted to save her.

Brian subsequently addressed Hayden’s death through his attorney Sloan Ellis.

Mr Ellis said: “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

While Hayden and Brian were together, he was arrested several times on domestic violence charges.