Hayden Panettiere is speaking candidly about the painful decision to give custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, while she focused on her mental health and recovery.
During a recent appearance on the podcast “On Purpose with Jay Shetty,” the actress addressed long-running criticism that she “abandoned” her daughter after Klitschko became Kaya’s primary caregiver in 2018.
“I mean, the idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking,” Panettiere said. “Couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
The 36-year-old actress, known for roles in “Nashville” and “Heroes,” shared that she was battling substance abuse and mental health struggles at the time. She also pushed back against misconceptions about her treatment journey.
“I think a misconception is that I have been, in the past, forced into treatment when, in fact, I have been the one who has sought it out,” she explained. “Who was saying I desperately need help?”
Panettiere described herself as a fiercely protective mother, calling herself a “mother lion” who would have “burnt the whole world down” for her daughter. Still, she acknowledged that allowing Kaya to live in Europe with Klitschko while she sought treatment was “incredibly difficult.”
“The fact that my child wasn’t going to be with me all day, every day was … you can’t put words to it,” she said. “It’s just a really intense feeling or multiple feelings really layered together.”
Over time, Panettiere said she realized Kaya had built a stable and fulfilling life overseas, surrounded by family and friends. She noted that her daughter now speaks five languages and has thrived in Europe.
“So by the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair of me to, and selfish of me to try to pull her out of this life that she had been creating,” Panettiere shared. “An incredible life.”
The actress emphasized that despite the distance, she remains deeply connected to her daughter through frequent visits and regular FaceTime calls.
“I have an incredible relationship with her,” Panettiere said. “We have a really intense, incredible bond and I’m very grateful for that.”
She also made clear that Kaya understands she is loved and supported by both parents.
“I know that she knows that she has two parents that would do anything in the world to make sure that she is happy and healthy,” Panettiere said. “She in no way feels abandoned.”
