Hayden Panettiere‘s ex is making her family battle into a feud triangle.

Brian Hickerson, who had a tumultuous relationship with the actress from 2018 to 2022, has risen to her defense against her estranged mom. The former lovers’ relationship saw many hiccups, including multiple domestic violence incidents.

Hayden Panettiere’s ex’s voice was heard shortly after her mom, Lesley Vogel, spilled the tea on claims her daughter made about their dysfunctional relationship in her upcoming memoir, which will hit the shelves on May 19.

Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Takes A Jab At Her ‘Terrible’ Mom

Hickerson dived headlong into the ongoing mother-daughter bitter feud between his ex and her estranged mom.

He did not hold back with his words after Vogel publicly called her daughter’s intentions for publishing her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” Vogel further questioned the “Nashville” star’s decision to open up about her sexuality.

The actor aired his thoughts with TMZ while reacting to Vogel’s recent comments, including her suggestion that the timing of Panettiere’s coming out was more about promoting her new book.

When asked if Hickerson knew about his ex’s bisexuality, he simply replied, “Yeah. Hayden is into beautiful people.” 

Shifting the focus to his ex’s mom, the “M.F.A” actor said, “Hayden’s mother is by far one of the worst people I’ve ever met in my life.” He continued, without holding back, saying, “I just can’t with her. She’s terrible.” 

A Glimpse Into The Memoir ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’

Panettiere’s memoir has already sparked headlines as it reportedly details her family trauma, severing ties with her mom, past abusive relationships, including with Hickerson, and her addiction struggles.

She recently revealed that she felt pressured to keep parts of her identity private while growing up in Hollywood under her mother’s management.

Vogel served as her daughter’s manager from when she appeared in commercials as a child to featuring on shows like “Guiding Light,” “One Life to Live,” and “Remember the Titans.” 

Their relationship slowly transcended into a professional one, mainly such that when Panettiere ended their collaboration as professional partners at 19, there was nothing left for the mother-daughter duo to bond over.

The actress recalled how desperate she was to get her mother’s approval at the time, noting that she had to make sure her mother was happy with her work. “If I didn’t do it right, I was in trouble… It was not a good reaction,” the “Heroes” star detailed. 

Lesley Vogel Claims She Was Left Traumatized By Her Daughter

The momager clapped back at her daughter’s narrative in the soon-to-be-released memoir. She accused Panettiere of causing her emotional pain, stating that she has  “20 years of trauma” to show for it. 

Vogel also suggested that the book was written for publicity and not with sincere motives to tell her story. In addition to these claims, she stated that she invested years of effort in trying to support and encourage her daughter to no avail, which fueled her decision to cut off communication with the actress.

The Blast reported earlier that Vogel criticized the memoir by identifying a behavioral pattern centered around control, entitlement, and a lack of compassion for others in the “Nashville” star. The momager noted that people with the type of personality her daughter allegedly struggles with often hide behind the curtains, as they are deeply afraid of their true colors being brought to light.

Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Is Still Hanging On To Hope 

Hickerson disclosed that he always saw a future with the entertainer despite their on-and-off relationship dynamics.

He told news outlets in a recent interview for his ex’s upcoming book, and when asked if he ever considered taking vows with Panettiere, he wore his feelings on his sleeve.

“Yeah, of course,” Hickerson replied to the marriage question. “I hope so…she probably doesn’t think the same way,”  he said, and then explained why a union seems out of the picture.

The “M.F.A” actor described his ex as very talented, noting that he “would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career.” 

According to The Blast, the former lovers have rekindled their friendship, and Hickerson admitted to playing a major role in their separation.

At the time, he was swimming in an ocean of vices, including alcohol and drug use, legal drama involving jail time, and felony domestic violence charges.

Details of the ex-lovers’ heated fight made the pages of Panettiere’s upcoming memoir, including a drunken exchange where Hickerson threatened to throw his phone at the actress.

Hayden Panettiere Had To Make An ‘Incredibly Difficult’ Decision

Panettiere’s struggles with addiction and postpartum depression led her to a crossroads where she had to give up custody of her only daughter.

The actress welcomed her child, Kaya, with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, who lives in Ukraine. After calling it quits on their romantic relationship, they reportedly remained on good terms.

Struggling to find her way out of darkness filled with anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse, she decided that the best decision for her daughter at the time was to stay with her father.

Panettiere admitted that she needed help and decided to get treatment before officially finalizing the custody agreement in 2018.

The Blast shared that the actress came under fire for her decision, as many accused her of abandoning her child despite being fully aware of her personal challenges.

The “Heroes” actress praised Klitschko for being an “incredible father” who stepped up to take Kaya while she dealt with her battles.