Hayden Panettiere's Family Reportedly Staged An Intervention For Rehab

Fans' concerns about Hayden Panettiere's well-being appear to be on point as the actress was forced to enter a rehabilitation facility.

According to new reports, a worried family member intervened and got the "Nashville" star the help she needed following a controversial virtual interview. Panettiere appeared disoriented, slurring her words and fighting to stay awake during the shoot.

The viral interview sparked numerous comments from concerned fans, but Hayden Panettiere brushed off their worries and blamed her behavior on exhaustion. But sources implied more than tiredness had been happening behind the scenes.

A source recently claimed a family member traveled to Los Angeles to get Panettiere into a rehabilitation facility. The relative's efforts to help her also involved kicking her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, out of her home.

The intervention reportedly occurred on Sunday, October 6, weeks after fans became concerned about Panettiere's well-being. Their worries began on September 18 when a video of her interview with PEOPLE was shared on the outlet's Instagram page.

Viewers pushed for the video to be taken down, noting Panettiere's out-of-sorts behavior. One comment pointed out, "Slurred speech, eyes can barely stay open, trying to make it through long words clearly not sober. Very sad."

"Dancing With the Stars" pro Peta Murgatroyd echoed similar sentiments, writing, "This interview should be removed asap!!" However, Panettiere addressed fans' concerns in an Instagram post on September 22, blaming her behavior on exhaustion, per In Touch.

Panettiere slammed the narrative about her out-of-sorts behavior in her post, arguing: "It's unfathomable that I'm even in this position, but I feel forced to address it in a space where I won't be criticized for how fast or slow I speak."

"I hadn't slept for two days prior to the shoot due to one of my dogs who was recovering from an emergency surgical procedure. It was an 8-hour shoot followed by an on-camera interview that was supposed to last for 1 hour," Panettiere explained. 

The actress stressed that she was "exhausted," noting that her rep eventually "stopped the interview early as it became obvious that I was fading — especially as the subject matter became heavier." Despite her claims, a family member deemed it necessary to place her in rehab weeks later.

The source claimed Panettiere's family member kicked her boyfriend out of her home after placing her in rehab. This move might be linked to her tumultuous on-and-off-again relationship with Hickerson.

Panettiere and her beau began dating in August 2018, but their love turned volatile, with more than one domestic violence incident. Hickerson was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence in May 2019, and the actress was issued a protective order.

However, the charges against him were dropped, and the pair rekindled their love before separating less than one year later after another alleged domestic violence incident. Hickerson was slammed with eight counts of domestic violence and assault.

Panettiere's boyfriend pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse/cohabitant/girlfriend in April 2021 and was sentenced to serve 45 days in prison. However, Hickerson was let go after 12 days in jail and is on probation through 2025 because of his 2019 and 2020 arrests.

Panettiere's reported rehabilitation might not surprise many as she has been vocal about her addictions. During a 2022 interview, she reflected on her opioid and alcohol struggles, saying:

"I was on top of the world, and I ruined it. I'd think I hit rock bottom, but then there's that trap door that opens."

Panettiere stressed that her sobriety journey hadn't "been easy, and there were a lot of ups and downs." Despite the challenges, the actress noted she wouldn't change a thing about her past, declaring:

"But I don't regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance."

Weeks before her rehab news, The Blast reported that the "Scream" actress had reflected on losing her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, in February 2023. She addressed their bond in an emotional interview, confessing:

"He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him. When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul."

Panettiere claimed that her brother's death sent her spiraling into a phase where she did not want to leave the house, especially with the paparazzi after her. She noted the attention and grief triggered her agoraphobia, saying:

"I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen's funeral, which happened in a very private place, and it was shocking. My agoraphobia came out, which is something I've struggled with in the past."

Will Hayden Panettiere be able to bounce back from her reported rehabilitation just as she has in the past?