Hayden Panettiere spoke about her mental and physical health after her recent interview shared online sparked concern among fans about her health.
The “Nashville” actress appeared on Tuesday’s episode of “Today With Hoda and Jenna” when she was asked how she was dealing with her “own mental health” while mourning the loss of her brother, Jansen Panettiere.
“I thought it would be easier. I thought people would have compassion and that would be the only thing that would be there, but I had no idea how my body, my mind, would react to the grief,” she began on the talk show.
“It’s crazy what stress and grief and all those hormones coursing through your body can do. (They can) make you faint,” she continued.
Panettiere, 35, added that grief “comes in many different forms, so no one should be ashamed of it or judged by it.”
The mother of one also raved about how her physical condition has improved thanks to the support of celebrity fitness coach Marnie Alton, who has helped her “in ways that (she) cannot even put into words.”
“It’s a combination of barre and yoga, but it’s not just about the body. It’s about the mental state you’re in. Then we have to go out and have a conversation – a really down-to-earth conversation – or today is a day for a long walk. We’re still moving, but we’re also letting off some steam and doing some therapy,” she said.
Panettiere also spoke openly about learning to live without her brother Jansen Panettiere, who passed away in February 2023 at the age of 28.
“I think it’s something that changes over time. The five stages of grief, for example, are for people who have experienced heartbreak or bad news. Yes, there are five stages, but there’s so much more in between,” she explained.
The “Girls United” actress spoke about her health and grieving process while promoting her new film “Amber Alert,” telling the co-hosts that after such an emotional year, it “felt right” to get back into acting with this project.
Panettiere seemed a little nervous for the interview but mostly in good spirits, looking dapper in a semi-sheer black button-down shirt with a tie and a black and white blazer over it.
Panettiere appeared on the morning show just days after giving her first interview to People magazine in which she appears to speak slowly and slur her words.
“It’s unbelievable that I’m even in this position, but I feel compelled to address it in a place where I won’t be criticized for how fast or slow I speak,” she wrote in a caption on Instagram on Sunday.
Panettiere explained that she “hadn’t slept for two days” before the shoot because one of her dogs was “recovering from emergency surgery.”
“Whether I take medication or not is nobody else’s business and is a matter between me and my doctor,” she added.
Panettiere admitted that she is still grieving the loss of her brother Jansen.
“The real issue is the toxicity of social media and a news cycle fueled by clickbait. Mental health is so important and I hope those reading this now understand that what you say behind a computer screen can have a damaging effect on someone,” she shared.
The “Heroes” actress claimed that filming lasted eight hours before she sat down in front of the camera for an interview that was scheduled for an hour.
But shortly after the interview “got off to a good start,” her press agent “ended it prematurely” when it “became apparent” that she was getting frayed by the “more persistent” questions about her late brother.
“We asked the interviewer if we could repeat it another day or do a follow-up interview via Zoom. She assured us that it was not necessary and that she felt it had been an emotional and heartfelt interview. We were also told that they would edit it and that it would be a beautiful piece,” she claimed.
Panettiere ended her statement by thanking everyone who had come to her “defense” while she was still a “work in progress.”
The star of “Against All Rules” released the statement just days after a video in which she talks about her daughter left her fans worried.
In the controversial clip, Panettiere appeared to struggle to speak clearly and keep her eyes open. Fans and celebrities left thousands of comments expressing their disappointment with the video and calling for People to delete the video.
The outlet has not yet commented on the interview, but a source previously told Page Six that Panettiere was “fully cooperative with the team” at the time.
Panettiere had previously spoken about her past struggle with alcoholism and opioid addiction, but her publicist assured Page Six that her client was “not under the influence” at the time of the interview.
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