A skincare company, Neutrogena, is facing renewed controversy after the passing of Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in popular TV shows such as “Heroes” and “Nashville.” Panettiere, who served as a global brand ambassador for Neutrogena from 2005 to 2015, publicly discussed her battle with postpartum depression in 2015, shortly after giving birth to her daughter. Following this, her partnership with Neutrogena came to an end.
During a recent podcast interview with Jay Shetty, Panettiere claimed that Neutrogena allegedly attempted to terminate her contract due to her remarks on postpartum depression, citing a morality clause. Despite her representative’s intervention, Panettiere felt she would not be rehired by Neutrogena the following year. The company did not reach out to her after the incident, leaving Panettiere feeling the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding postpartum depression.
Neutrogena’s parent company, Kenvue, has not provided further details on why Panettiere’s partnership was not renewed despite inquiries from CBC News. In 2018, Panettiere entrusted full custody of her daughter to her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, amidst personal struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
Following the release of the podcast episode, fans initiated a boycott against Neutrogena, with one beauty influencer incorporating the podcast audio in a video titled “Neutrogena hates women!” After Panettiere’s recent passing, fans have reignited their criticism, flooding Neutrogena’s social media accounts with demands for a response to the allegations.
Users have expressed their discontent, urging Neutrogena to address the situation, citing Panettiere’s unfortunate demise after speaking out about her challenges with postpartum depression. The public outcry has garnered significant attention, with comments and posts on various platforms calling for accountability.
Panettiere’s daughter, Kaya, is now 11 years old. Klitschko, in a statement following Panettiere’s death, emphasized the need to remember her fondly and lamented the loss of young talents like her.