Hayden Panettiere Reveals Her Brother’s Death Triggered Agoraphobia

Hayden Panettiere’s brother, Jansen Panettiere, tragically passed away on February 19, 2023, at just 28 years old from cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) coupled with aortic valve complications.

Jansen, who was making a name for himself as an actor and artist, had notable roles in TV shows like “The Walking Dead” and “The Perfect Game,” as well as contributions to animation.

In the wake of her brother’s passing, Hayden Panettiere has shared how deeply his death impacted her, revealing that it triggered her struggles with agoraphobia.

In the days after discovering that her only sibling had passed away at 28, she revealed to People Magazine that her entire body began to swell uncontrollably, leaving her feeling helpless.

“I just ballooned out,” the “Scream” actress recalled of her rapid 40-pound weight gain. “It didn’t matter what I did, what I ate. I know stress and cortisol running through your body can do that. Now I think my body was protecting itself, shielding itself from the world.”

“I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen’s funeral, which happened in a very private place, and it was shocking,” she added. “I didn’t recognize myself. My agoraphobia came out, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past.”

The “Bring It On All Or Nothing” actress has candidly discussed the challenges she faced growing up in the spotlight, particularly after being cast as the superhero cheerleader Claire Bennet in the hit series “Heroes” at just 17 in 2006.

“Having grown up in this industry, you’re terrified if you don’t look decent when you walk out the door,” she said. “That started happening for me when I was 16, where you’re already at an age where you don’t feel great about your changing body — and you certainly don’t need grown men commenting on [our] insecurities.”

She recalled that when she returned to work on “Nashville” just three months after having her daughter Kaya, it did not help the situation.

“No woman should have to be on camera unless they want to be three months after they give birth,” the actress told People. “I’d just be stuffing every ounce of flub into Spanx, and it added to my depression and what I thought of myself. They say you should speak to yourself the way you would speak to your friends, but I was very, very guilty of speaking to myself horribly.”

Last year, Panettiere’s publicist connected her with Marnie Alton, the personal trainer and CEO of M/BODY, a barre fitness experience. Alton not only helped the actress get in shape but also became a trusted confidante and someone she could turn to for support.

“She has just been so courageous,” Alton said of the actress. “She was wanting to make a big change in her life, and in order to do that, you have to be really honest about where you’re at in the now.”

The “Scream” actress mentioned that she feels “content” and is concentrating on what matters most to her, including her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with her ex, Wladimir Klitschko.

“She does so many things,” Panettiere said of her daughter. “She golfs, she plays chess. She’s been dancing since she was little and loves singing.”

The actress, set to appear in the upcoming film “Amber Alert,” shared that the sudden death of her brother left her feeling as if she had “lost half of my soul.”

“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” she told the outlet. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul…I will always be heartbroken about [him], I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss,” she says.