Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Wladimir Klitschko Honors Her on 37th Birthday

Aug 21, 2026 - 19:13

0 0

Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Wladimir Klitschko Honors Her on 37th Birthday

Hayden Panettiere's Ex Wladimir Klitschko Speaks Out After Her Death

Wladimir Klitschko will always remember Hayden Panettiere's spirit.

Five days after the Bring It On: All or Nothing actress' death, her ex and father to their daughter Kaya, 11, shared a personal message on what would've been her 37th birthday.

”Instead of celebrating the way we had planned," he captioned an Aug. 21 Instagram post featuring a photo of Panettiere, "today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.”

The former boxer went on to also highlight the responses he’s received since her death was confirmed.

“I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support,” he wrote. “At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity.”

He continued, “If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it.”

Klitschko concluded his heartfelt note with a message addressed directly to the Heroes star.

“Happy Birthday, Hayden,” he added. “You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.”

Panettiere’s cause of death has not yet been determined, although police has confirmed she suffered an apparent overdose and have ruled out foul play during the preliminary investigation.

After her passing on Aug. 16, Klitschko detailed his family's "profound shock and grief."

"Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya," Klitschko continued. "She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."

Klitschko, 50, with whom she split in 2018 after being on and off for nearly nine years, noted his promise for their only child. "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was," he wrote. "I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon."

Keep reading for a look at Panettiere's sweetest moments with her daughter Kaya...

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Hayden Panettiere announced during the 2014 Emmy Awards that she and then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko were expecting their first baby together.

"It's a little girl," the Nashville star told E! on the red carpet. "I can't wait for her to come out, this little one."

The pair, who split in 2018, welcomed Kaya Klitschko on Dec. 9, 2014.

Hayden Panettiere/X

Fun in the Sun

Panettiere and Klitschko were all smiles while spending a day by the pool with their daughter Kaya. She wrote alongside the photo in July 2017, "Blessed to be with my beautiful family."

Hayden Panettiere/X

Daddy's Little Girl

Panettiere struggled with severe postpartum depression after welcoming Kaya. Though, her candor helped bring attention to maternal mental health. Ultimately, she gave Klitschko full custody in 2018 and was grateful to see the strong support system her daughter had.

"It was grief in the beginning," she recalled on a May 2026 episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. "But because of the relationship that I do have with her and how things ultimately played out, I'm incredibly grateful to her. She has an incredible father, an incredible family."

Although the Heroes alum lived separately from Kaya, the mother-daughter duo still shared a strong bond.

"It's not what I hoped motherhood was going to be or what it would look like," she admitted. "But I'm so lucky that it turned out the way it did and that she is safe and a wonderful, well-rounded person."

Hayden Panettiere/X

Sweet Embrace

Panettiere shared a sweet moment with Kaya while holding her close. As she wrote alongside a March 2017 photo of them hugging, "Best feeling in the world.”

Hayden Panettiere/Twitter

Being the Best Mom She Can Be

While Kaya lived with Klitschko in Europe full-time, she and the Scream 4 actress spent as much time as possible together.

"I have an incredible relationship with her," she explained on Jay Shetty's podcast. "I go travel as much as I can. I see her. I do spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her, but we talk about really deep things."

Hayden Panettiere/X

Trying Her Best for Kaya

As Panettiere navigated mental health struggles and addiction, she always tried to be a better mom, friend and person.

"I've always strived to be a positive person," she wrote in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, "but I grieve all the hours I lose to addiction, my broken relationships, and my loved ones who are no longer here."

Nonetheless, the actress had continued to maintain a positive outlook on her future.

"I'm far from perfect," she added, "but my life quakes and moments of struggle are little miracles that have helped me grow."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App