Neutrogena Responds to Backlash After Hayden Panettiere’s Death

Skincare brand Neutrogena acknowledged facing public backlash and consumer boycotts following the death of former brand ambassador Hayden Panettiere at age 36. The actress, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, according to local police reports cited by RTÉ. Investigators noted no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

Following her death, comments Panettiere made during a May appearance on the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast resurfaced across social media platforms, sparking intense criticism from fans. In the interview, Panettiere stated that Neutrogena dropped her as a brand ambassador after she spoke publicly about experiencing postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Kaya, now 11.

Neutrogena Responds to Backlash Over Dismissal

In an official statement reported by RTÉ, Neutrogena addressed the controversy, stating that the company understands it made Panettiere feel unsupported during a difficult period. According to the company’s statement, everyone at Neutrogena extended deepest condolences to the late actress’s family and loved ones, noting that they delayed speaking publicly out of respect for her family immediately following her passing.

“For more than a decade, Hayden was a deeply valued member of our Neutrogena community,” the company’s statement read, as published by RTÉ. “We are proud to have partnered with her and understood that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time. This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be. Hayden’s courage in sharing her challenges helped inspire important conversations and awareness.”

To address the concerns raised by the public, Neutrogena announced plans to make a significant financial investment in a long-standing community health partner. The initiative aims to expand women’s access to vital support services, including specialized care for postpartum depression, with further details to be shared once plans are finalized.

Resurfaced Podcast Comments and Memoir Details

During her May podcast appearance with Jay Shetty, Panettiere detailed the circumstances surrounding the end of her professional relationship with the skincare giant. She explained that her contract included strict morality clauses, which she believed were violated when she spoke openly about her mental health struggles.

“Neutrogena was a huge part of my life. I had the morals clauses, they caught absolutely everything. And of all the things that they would fire me over, this is the last thing that I thought they would ever fire me for,” Panettiere said during the podcast, according to RTÉ. She noted that her representative at the time advised her that terminating a contract under those circumstances was improper, but she anticipated that her partnership would not be renewed.

The actress further documented her mental health journey in her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. In the book, she described the intense emotional hurdles she faced after welcoming her daughter. “Ever since Kaya’s birth, all my natural optimism and pep had vanished,” she wrote, detailing feelings of inadequacy and distress when struggling to soothe her infant. Greenville police confirmed that her death remains under investigation, while fans and advocates continue to highlight her openness regarding postpartum mental health challenges.