Wladimir Klitschko speaks out with a heartfelt tribute to Hayden Panettiere, the mother of his child.
In a heartfelt message, Wladimir Klitschko shared his deep sadness over the passing of actress Hayden Panettiere. Hayden, who shared an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with Wladimir, was found unresponsive on Sunday, August 16, at an apartment where she had been staying temporarily. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Greenville Police in South Carolina said there were no signs of foul play or anything suspicious. The coroner’s office reported that Hayden was treated for cardiac arrest, and her autopsy showed no signs of trauma. The official cause of death has not been released.
Many of Hayden’s co-stars, friends, and fans have shared kind memories and tributes online. On Tuesday, August 18, Wladimir posted a statement on social media, saying, “Our family is going through a time of deep shock and grief.”
He added, “Hearing about Hayden’s tragic death breaks my heart. She left this world too soon. Even though we were no longer together, she was an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.
“Hayden had an amazing career thanks to her incredible talent, while also dealing with the tough challenges of a demanding industry. Nothing can erase the moments we shared or the special place she holds in our lives.
“To Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with love and respect, and make sure she knows who Hayden really was.
“I want to send my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans — everyone who is grieving today. Young, talented people like Hayden should never leave us so soon.
“Please respect our family’s privacy during this very hard time. For now, this is all I wish to say.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting us and sending their sympathy.
“Rest in peace, Hayden. May you find peace forever.”
Hayden was known for her roles in TV shows like Heroes and Nashville. She met Wladimir at a book launch party in 2009, and they started dating. They first split in 2011 due to the challenges of long distance, but got back together two years later and got engaged in October 2013. Their daughter Kaya was born in December 2014.
The couple ended their relationship in 2018 but continued to co-parent Kaya. That year, during a difficult battle with postpartum depression, Hayden made the tough decision to give Wladimir full custody of Kaya while she focused on her recovery.
In a podcast in May, Hayden shared how hard that was for her at first. “It was incredibly difficult to think that my child wouldn’t be with me all the time,” she said. But she changed her mind when she realized how hard it was for Kaya to travel between the US and Ukraine, where Wladimir lived.
Even though they lived apart, Hayden said her connection with Kaya stayed very strong. In her memoir, she wrote about how painful it was not living under the same roof with her daughter every day. “The feelings of sadness, anger, and grief are hard to describe,” she said. “I’m heartbroken that I’m not the mother I wanted to be, and no one should ever have to raise a child over FaceTime. But even though I miss Kaya so much, I feel lucky to be her mom.”