Hayden Panettiere on how she found healing after her brother’s death

Hayden Panettiere is reflecting on the loss of her late brother, Jansen Panettiere, nearly two years after his passing.

In an interview with People, where she graces the cover, Panettiere, who is set to appear in the upcoming film Amber Alert, shared the profound impact of her brother’s sudden death in 2023. Jansen, who died from cardiomegaly and aortic valve complications, left her feeling as though she had “lost half of my soul.” She described Jansen as her only sibling and expressed her deep sense of responsibility to protect him.

“I will always be heartbroken about it,” she said. “I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.”

Panettiere revealed that in the wake of Jansen’s death, she experienced significant physical and emotional changes. She gained 40 pounds due to stress and elevated cortisol levels. “I didn’t feel confident to put on clothes and get out of the house,” she admitted, noting that she was distressed by paparazzi photos taken at Jansen’s funeral, which was held in a private setting.

The actress also spoke about her struggle with agoraphobia, which resurfaced following her brother’s death. Reflecting on her experience, Panettiere believes her body was trying to “protect itself, shielding itself from the world.”