Brian Hickerson: Hayden Panettiere boyfriend faces backlash after her death

Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson has faced severe backlash on his Instagram account after news of the 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' actress' death surfaced online.

No cause was stated, but ‌the death of the nominee for a Grammy and two Golden Globe awards was being investigated, her publicist said.

According to Page Six, Hayden Panettiere was in an on-and-off relationship with Brian Hickerson from 2018 up until she was found dead inside a South Carolina home on Aug. 16, 2026.

A large number of people commented on Brian Hickerson’s last Instagram post, blaming him for the death of Hayden Panettiere.

“He needs to be investigated,” commented user. “Why did you erase every picture of Hayden Panettiere,” wrote one fan. Another wrote, “What did you do to her .”

However, some users defended him, saying Brian Hickerson had nothing to with Panettiere’s death.

Hayden’s fans turned against Hickerson due to their tumultuous past, which included alleged incidents of abuse.

Hickerson is originally from South Carolina, where his family still resides. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in real estate development and to break into the acting industry.

However, Hickerson has limited acting credits, including an appearance in the 2017 thriller film “M.F.A.”

Panettiere and Hickerson were first romantically linked in 2018.

Page Six reported that in May 2019, Hickerson was arrested for domestic violence due to an alleged incident with the “Bring It On: All or Nothing” star.

According to the outlet,  at the time, Panettiere and Hickerson were drinking in Hollywood the night before the physical altercation at their home. 

After police interviewed the couple, they took Hickerson into custody for felony domestic violence for allegedly starting the fight. TMZ reported that redness and marks were visible on Panettiere’s body. 

Panettiere, somehow, remained linked to  Hickerson despite all the controversies.