Calling her on-and-off convicted felon boyfriend 'babe' several times during an interview, the 'Scream VI' actress insists that it's not a decision that she's taken 'lightly.'
- Apr 5, 2023
AceShowbiz - Hayden Panettiere still can't get over Brian Hickerson despite his history of getting violent during their relationship. The actress has hinted at getting back together with her abusive ex, more than two years after a domestic battery incident that led to his arrest.
In a New York Times profile published on Tuesday, April 4, the "Scream VI" star admitted that she still has "feelings" for her on-and-off convicted felon boyfriend. "There are feelings there, yes," she told the publication.
The outlet noted that Hayden referred to Brian as "babe" several times throughout the interview, but she was hesitant to define her current relationship status with the 32-year-old. She, however, claimed that their friendship is "contingent on him continuing on this road of recovery."
The Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes" went on sharing that Brian "knows he deserved what happened to him" after spending jail time for his charges. She then seemed to defend their reconciliation as saying, "I did not do any of this lightly."
Hayden began dating Brian in 2018 following her breakup from ex-fiance and longtime partner Wladimir Klitschko. In 2020, they broke up after he was arrested for corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, assault and intimidating a witness, stemming from alleged incidents between May 2019 and June 2020.
Despite his arrest, the two were seen together multiple times. In 2022, they appeared to break up for good after they got involved in a fight at the Sunset Marquis hotel in Los Angeles in March. In July, Brian ruled out a reconciliation with the "Nashville" alum, saying he was "looking forward to new chapters."
However, they remained friendly and last November, they were spotted going on a trip together. The pair were seen inside a departures terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, one day before the Thanksgiving holiday.
A source told E! News at the time, "Hayden and Brian have remained friends as he's sought professional help to turn his life around. This was a condition of her remaining friends with him."
Brian also offered Hayden emotional support following the tragic loss of her brother Jansen Panettiere. He was seen joining her at the funeral service for the former child actor on March 8.
