Key facts
- Neutrogena acknowledged making former ambassador Hayden Panettiere feel unsupported during a difficult time.
- The brand's statement came after Panettiere's death and circulation of a podcast interview where she discussed postpartum depression.
- In the interview, Panettiere stated Neutrogena cut ties with her after she spoke about her postpartum depression experiences.
- Neutrogena expressed sadness over Panettiere's passing and referred to her as a "valued member of our community."
- The company promised a significant investment to a partner to help women access care for postpartum depression.
Neutrogena has issued a statement acknowledging that it made former ambassador Hayden Panettiere "feel unsupported during a very difficult time." The statement comes four days after the 36-year-old actress was found dead and after her fans circulated a podcast interview from May. In the interview with podcaster Jay Shetty, Panettiere recounted how Neutrogena allegedly severed ties with her after she spoke about enduring postpartum depression (PPD) during a live interview.
Panettiere stated that she had no intention of discussing PPD but that it "just came up" and she was "just being honest." She expressed surprise that this would lead to the brand wanting to terminate her contract, especially after a decade-long association. She noted that her representative informed Neutrogena that firing her for this reason would be illegal, but she understood her contract would not be renewed.
Fans of Panettiere have criticized Neutrogena on social media, with some calling for a boycott of the brand. Neutrogena's statement expressed deep sadness over Panettiere's passing, calling her a "valued member of our community" and stating that her affiliation with the company began in 2005. The company acknowledged its role in making her feel unsupported, adding, "This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be."
In her memoir, released in May, Panettiere also detailed her struggles with PPD after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. The memoir also touched on her early acting career, alcohol addiction, and mental health challenges. The Greenville coroner's office has completed an autopsy, with the cause of death pending further investigation.
Neutrogena stated it waited to release its statement out of respect for Panettiere's family and loved ones. The company also pledged to make a "significant investment to a longstanding community health partner to help give more women access to the support they need, including care for postpartum depression," noting that Panettiere's courage in sharing her challenges helped inspire important conversations and awareness.