Hayden Panettiere’s journey through Hollywood spotlighted a darker narrative within the industry, as revealed by Lynsey Lonberg, cherished by Panettiere as her “second mom”. Lonberg shed light on the disturbing experiences the late actress encountered as a young star, including allegations of being offered pills.
“In her book [“This Is Me: A Reckoning”], she describes me as her second mother. She was truly like a daughter to me,” Lonberg shared with the Daily Mail, reflecting on their close relationship.
The former “Heroes” star, whose career began in infancy, faced relentless battles with her personal demons, Lonberg noted, emphasizing her friend’s repeated efforts to overcome them despite the challenges inherent in being an actress.
During conversations with Lonberg, Panettiere reportedly opened up about the environment on set, claiming, “She told me that on set, you could find any pills, liquor—anything you wanted was available,” Lonberg recounted to the publication.
As Lonberg put it, “This kid didn’t stand a chance. Without Hollywood’s influence, I truly believe her path would have been a very different one.”
Lonberg said Panettiere “did the best she could” for her daughter, Kaya, whom she welcomed with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
“It was impossible for her [to] keep up what she was doing as an actress and try to take care of her daughter,” she shared.
“She was trying to overcome the problems she had with drugs,” Lonberg alleged.
Panettiere was found dead in an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. She was 36.
According to an autopsy obtained by Page Six, the “Bring It On: All or Nothing” star had “no signs of trauma … that would have contributed to the death.”
A cause of death has not yet been revealed; however, a 911 call obtained by us revealed an “unidentified female” was in “cardiac arrest” following an alleged “overdose.”
Panettiere was often candid about her substance abuse struggles.
In her 2026 memoir, the “Scream VI” alum revealed she went to rehab after becoming dependent on alcohol following the traumatic birth of her daughter.
She also said she turned to prescription medication to deal with anxiety after Season 4 of “Nashville: began filming in 2015.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).