Brian Hickerson speaks out after Hayden Panettiere's death

Brian Hickerson, the boyfriend of late actress Hayden Panettiere, has spoken publicly for the first time about her death, offering a brief and somber response when approached by a photographer. The exchange occurred on September 16, 2026, at a gas station in Greenville, South Carolina, nearly a month after Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence there on August 16. When asked how he was doing, Hickerson replied, "How do you think I'm doing?" After receiving condolences, he added, "Appreciate it. That's all I got for you, man." The interaction was captured in video footage. Hickerson, 37, was present with his brother Zach when first responders arrived at the Greenville home on August 16. According to a death investigation report, Hickerson showed authorities a "bag of medication" he alleged belonged to Panettiere. An autopsy found no signs of trauma contributing to her death, but the official cause and manner remain pending the completion of toxicology results by the Greenville County Coroner's Office. Law enforcement sources have indicated that investigators believe Panettiere died after taking a blackmarket oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl.