Brian Hickerson Allegedly Threatened to Leak Videos of Hayden Panettiere

Recent court documents have revealed troubling details about the relationship between Brian Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere. These documents include messages in which Hickerson purportedly threatened to release compromising videos involving the actress.

The messages were reportedly sent after Hickerson’s arrest in 2020, following an alleged domestic violence incident with Panettiere in Wyoming. Despite a no-contact order being in effect, Hickerson allegedly continued to reach out to her.

In one message, he wrote, “It looks like it’s time for war.” Another message reportedly stated, “When Wyoming and LA are gone, the videos will be gone too.” Prosecutors interpreted these messages as attempts to intimidate Panettiere and dissuade her from pursuing legal action.

Hickerson allegedly escalated his threats, indicating that material stored overseas could be released if he were incarcerated. In one message, he claimed, “Even if I end up in prison for ten years, everything that is stored with my people overseas will be released as soon as I enter prison. It will only destroy your reputation and take the blame off me.”

He also allegedly urged Panettiere to communicate with him directly instead of going through the legal system. “It’s very simple, it’s an easy solution, just between you and me, you have to make one call,” he reportedly said. “I don’t want to go to court because of you. I’ll be fine in court, trust me, I’m doing this for you.”

These messages were part of the legal proceedings following the 2020 incident. Hickerson was ultimately sentenced in 2021 to 45 days in jail after being convicted of injuring his partner. His sentence included four years of probation, 52 hours of domestic violence classes, and a five-year restraining order. He served 33 days in jail.

The legal troubles did not conclude there. Just days before Panettiere’s death on August 13, a judge denied Hickerson’s request to reduce the criminal charges to misdemeanors. Hickerson argued that he had fulfilled the necessary conditions, but the judge rejected his plea. A similar request had also been denied in July 2025.

Panettiere and Hickerson began dating in 2018, and their relationship was fraught with serious issues. Despite their tumultuous history, they reportedly reconciled shortly before Panettiere’s death.

Initial reports indicate that Hickerson and his brother Zach were at Panettiere’s apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Zach allegedly discovered the 36-year-old actress unconscious in a chair, while Brian was reportedly asleep in another room.

Emergency responders attempted to revive Panettiere, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. A call to emergency services suggested the possibility of an overdose, and Narcan was found at the apartment. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, later discussed Hickerson in an interview with NBC, stating, “The person we had been trying to get rid of for a long time was with her when she died. That was Brian Hickerson.”

In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere had previously opened up about her relationship with Hickerson. A source mentioned that she kept their reconciliation private from friends during her final months.

“If Brian came back into her life, she kept it secret because she didn’t talk to her friends about it,” the source revealed. “When you go through such dark periods with someone and speak about it publicly, you can feel ashamed if you return to that person. Maybe that’s why she didn’t tell us anything.”

The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death are still under investigation, and the allegations in the court documents should be understood within that legal context.

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