Skincare company Neutrogena issued a statement on Thursday addressing its past relationship with actress Hayden Panettiere, who died Sunday at age 36. The company’s remarks followed social media criticism and calls for a boycott from fans who resurfaced Panettiere’s previous claims that the brand ended her contract in 2015 because she spoke publicly about postpartum depression.
Panettiere, known for roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died in Greenville, South Carolina, after being found in cardiac arrest. While her career spanned three decades, her 10-year partnership with Neutrogena ended shortly after she discussed her experience with postpartum depression during a 2015 television interview. In a May appearance on the "On Purpose" podcast, Panettiere stated she was told the company wanted to fire her because of those comments, noting her representative at the time called the move illegal.
In its Thursday statement, Neutrogena acknowledged that the company "made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time." The company stated that Panettiere had been a valued member of their community for more than a decade and that its past actions do not reflect what the brand stands for now. Neutrogena also announced it would make a "significant investment" in a community health partner to improve access to postpartum depression care, though specific details were not provided.
The scale of this event involves a 10-year professional relationship that Panettiere claimed was terminated following her disclosure of a medical condition. While the specific dollar amount of the "significant investment" promised by Neutrogena was not reported, such corporate pledges often involve hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars directed toward health care infrastructure. For the average person, this development signals a shift in how major employers handle public disclosures of mental health struggles, potentially setting a precedent for more robust support systems rather than contract terminations.
The knock-on effects include increased scrutiny of influencer and spokesperson contracts regarding "morality clauses" or health disclosures. In the immediate future, the public will see the results of Neutrogena's promised investment as the company releases further details on its plans for postpartum support. The death of Panettiere also remains under active investigation by local authorities in South Carolina, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, which may lead to further reports regarding the circumstances of her passing.