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Hayden Panettiere is voicing her opinions. In response to fans' worries about the Heroes alum's speech pattern in a recent interview, the actress clarified what was actually happening behind the scenes.
"It's unfathomable that I'm even in this position," Hayden posted to Instagram on September 22, "but I feel forced to address it in a space where I won't be criticized for how fast or slow I speak."
Two days before the shoot, the 35-year-old claimed she hadn't slept because one of her dogs "was recovering from an emergency surgical procedure." She added that she was feeling worn out by the time they started filming the People video, which was shot after an eight-hour workday.
She continued, "My representative ended the interview early because it was clear that I was fading, especially as the topic got heavier. We inquired with the interviewer about doing a follow-up interview via Zoom or rescheduling for a different day. She told us it wasn't required and that she thought the interview was sincere and emotional."
She added that the magazine had promised to edit the footage to produce a "beautiful piece" that touched on several topics, including the unexpected passing of Hayden's brother Jansen Panettiere in 2023 from an unidentified heart condition.
"Grief looks different on everyone," she continued. "Whether or not I am on medication is none of anyone's business and is between me and my doctor."
The actress from Scream VI went on, "Social media toxicity and a clickbait-driven news cycle are the real problems here. I hope that people who are reading this now recognize the importance of mental health and that hiding behind a computer screen can have negative effects on people.
After thanking everyone who had come to her "defense amidst this chaos," Hayden—who is separated from her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko—stated, "I am a work in progress." Hayden and Kaya are 9-year-old daughters. All of us are."
People posted a video of their interview with the Nashville star on social media on September 18, and it was then that worries about the star began to surface. Hayden appeared exhausted and was slightly slurring her words.
Fans noticed right away; one posted a comment on the video saying, "She doesn't look or sound well." I'm wishing her well."
One more person said, "Whoa. It hurts to see her like this. Hope she receives the support she requires."
However, as Hayden pointed out, things got particularly tough during the interview when she talked about how her younger brother's death at age 28 affected her and still does.
She told People, "He was my only sibling, and it was my responsibility to protect him." "When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul."
