Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence on the death of Hayden Panettiere, the mother of his 11-year-old daughter Kaya. In a social media post on August 18, the former boxer described the family as going through "profound shock and grief" and asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Tribute to the mother of his daughter
Sharing an old picture of the family of three on Instagram, Klitschko wrote: "Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief. The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya."
He continued: "She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."
Respect and remembrance
Klitschko added: "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was. I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon."
He asked everyone to respect the family’s privacy and ended with: "Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden"
Background on Panettiere's death
Hayden Panettiere was found dead at age 36 on August 16. Her representative confirmed the news on August 17. Police announced there was "no foul play" in her passing. Her father Skip described her as an "incredible light."
Panettiere and Klitschko were previously engaged and shared daughter Kaya. Klitschko was given full custody of their child in 2018 while Panettiere battled substance addiction. During her pregnancy in 2014, she suffered a severe haemorrhage and later experienced postnatal depression, which she said led her to turn to alcohol.
Since the news, friends and fans have flooded her last social media post with tributes.
