Lesley Vogel, the mother of late Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere, has been seen in public for the first time since missing her daughter’s memorial service in Malibu last month.
Vogel, 70, and Panettiere were reportedly estranged when the actress died on August 16 from an accidental overdose involving multiple drugs, including fentanyl. Her death came one week after police conducted a welfare check at her West Hollywood home.
The former actress and producer, who acted as Panettiere’s “momager” while raising her, was photographed Thursday cleaning leaves outside her South Carolina home before later walking to a nearby park.
Vogel wore red lipstick, eye makeup and blush, along with a pink manicure. Her brunette hair was swept into a relaxed updo as she walked along a residential sidewalk.
She paired a loose white camisole with bold patterned leggings and beige lace-up boots. Gold jewelry completed the look, while sunglasses rested from the neckline of her blouse.
The public sighting took place nearly two weeks after approximately 150 friends, relatives and former co-stars came together at Malibu Pacific Church to remember Panettiere.
Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, 70, has made her first public appearance since missing her daughter’s Malibu memorial service last month.
Vogel, a former actress and producer who served as Panettiere’s “momager,” was seen Thursday clearing leaves at her South Carolina home before heading to a park.
Panettiere’s father, 67-year-old Skip Panettiere, attended the service, while Vogel was absent.
According to an initial report from TMZ, Vogel and Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson had deliberately not been included on the guest list.
However, someone close to Vogel challenged that account, telling TMZ that she had been invited but could not attend because of a “family emergency.”
The memorial was described by the outlet as an “emotional and beautiful” tribute. Former Nashville co-stars Connie Britton and Charles Esten delivered speeches, with Esten also performing one of Panettiere’s songs from the series alongside a church band.
Paris Hilton, Evan Ross, Lennon Stella, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson and Ruby Rose were among the guests who attended the intimate gathering.
Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were not invited. Both men had been at the South Carolina Airbnb where Panettiere died.
People close to the brothers previously told TMZ that they understood the sensitivity surrounding the memorial and were not contesting the organizers’ decision to leave them off the guest list.
The sources said the brothers wanted the gathering to serve as a “beautiful celebration of Hayden, her life and her legacy.”
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Vogel wore red lipstick, eye makeup and blush while walking along a residential sidewalk.
The sighting came nearly two weeks after around 150 friends and former co-stars gathered at Malibu Pacific Church to honor Panettiere. She is pictured in 2022 at the premiere of Blonde in Los Angeles.
TMZ initially reported that Vogel had been excluded from the memorial, but a source close to her later said she had been invited and missed the service because of a “family emergency.” Panettiere and Vogel are pictured together at a 2006 Teen Vogue event in Los Angeles.
Hickerson and Zach have continued to deny any involvement in Panettiere’s death.
According to the Greenville Police Department’s incident report, Zach told police that Hickerson was sleeping in a separate room of the Airbnb when he arrived and found the actress unresponsive in a chair.
Zach stated that Hickerson administered Narcan – a medication that reverses opioid overdoses – and that they performed CPR while communicating with 911 dispatchers.
Hickerson met with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) amid their investigation into the actress’ suspected overdose death, TMZ previously reported.
Local and federal investigators reportedly believe the actress was sold drugs that may have caused her death, and authorities are now focused on identifying the suspected dealer.
Panettiere had a volatile and tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Hickerson beginning in 2018.
Hickerson was arrested and charged for domestic violence involving Panettiere multiple times.
In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, resulting in jail time, probation, domestic violence classes, $500 in restitution, and a five-year protective order, per People.
Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were not invited to the Malibu memorial. Above, the actress and actor in 2019 in Los Angeles
Hickerson was arrested and charged for domestic violence involving Panettiere multiple times. Above, Hickerson’s mug shot following an incident involving Panettiere in 2020
Last week, a spokesman for the Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed to the Daily Mail that Panettiere died from the ‘toxic effects’ of multiple drugs – including fentanyl – and that her death was accidental.
Just a few grains of powerful opioid fentanyl, which is 50 times stronger than heroin, can cause a fatal overdose.
‘An autopsy was completed by a Board Certified Forensic Pathologist. At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,’ a spokesperson said.