Former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has paid an emotional tribute to his late ex-partner Hayden Panettiere on what would have been her 37th birthday. The American actress and singer died last Sunday (16 August) at her home in South Carolina.
A Relationship Remembered
Klitschko and Panettiere maintained an on-off relationship from 2009 to 2018. The pair welcomed a daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
The Ukrainian athlete was among the many famous faces who paid tribute to Panettiere after her death earlier this week, previously writing that his family was "going through a time of profound shock and grief".
The Birthday Tribute
In a heartfelt Instagram post published on Friday (August 21), Klitschko said the actress "will never be forgotten" and remembered "the love she brought into this world". The 50-year-old penned a lengthy tribute beneath a photo of the actress.
He wrote: "Today is Hayden’s birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world."
"I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support. At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity."
"If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it. Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten."
Outpouring of Support
The post has been inundated with comments from supporters, fans and celebrities including actor Sam Palladio, who starred alongside Panettiere in country music drama Nashville. "Sending love on this sad day," he wrote. Entourage star Jeremy Piven commented: "May her memory be a blessing."
Following her rapid rise to fame in the early 2000s, the pressure of the industry began to weigh on Panettiere, with the actress previously revealing that she had battled with addiction throughout her 20s. The actress gave Klitschko full custody of their now 11-year-old daughter in 2018 amid her struggles, which she discussed in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.
