Actor Ruby Rose has shared screenshots she said were text messages from Hayden Panettiere, adding a deeply personal note to the public discussion surrounding the late actress’s death at 36. The posts appeared on Threads and included messages attributed to Panettiere that referenced pain tied to her relationship with her mother, Lesley Vogel. According to Entertainment Weekly, the outlet could not independently verify the identity of the person in the screenshots, though Rose presented them as messages from the actress during a week of intense attention on Panettiere’s family history.
Ruby Rose Posts Messages About Alleged Family Pain
In one screenshot, the contact saved as “Hayden” discussed wanting to create a project centered on real-life issues and solutions. Another exchange was more personal. Rose wrote that their parents “did not act or behave like mothers,” and the reply attributed to Panettiere described the aftermath of that hurt. “I was sobbing over her cruelty yesterday thinking, my god I’m 36 and she can still cause this kind of pain,” Panettiere told Rose, according to Entertainment Weekly. The same message continued with a line about being her mother’s only surviving child.
Lesley Vogel’s NBC News Comments Drew Criticism
The screenshots surfaced after Vogel spoke publicly about her daughter’s death and criticized Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. In comments cited by the source report, Vogel said Panettiere had gone down the “wrong path” and said Hickerson had been someone the family had tried to remove from her life. Those remarks quickly drew backlash. CBS Mornings co-anchor Gayle King addressed the interview on air and did not hide her reaction. “You know, guys, you read this and all I can think is, ‘Thanks, Mom, for nothing,’” King said.
Hayden Panettiere Spoke About Her Mother Earlier This Year
Months before her death, Panettiere had already spoken publicly about the strain in that relationship. On Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast in May, she said she ended professional ties with Vogel when she was 19 because she wanted a parent, not a manager. Panettiere recalled a moment during filming of Heroes when she tried to draw that line. She said she told her mother, “I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom.” Panettiere then alleged that Vogel answered with two words: “You owe me.”
Coroner Investigation Into Death Is Still Active
The latest social media posts arrived as officials continue to examine the circumstances of Panettiere’s death in South Carolina. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Greenville coroner Mike Ellis said there were no signs of trauma that would have led to death. He added that the cause and manner of death were still pending further investigation and additional studies. Panettiere had been open in recent years about struggles with alcohol and opioids, making the ongoing investigation a major part of the story as friends, family, and former colleagues continue to respond.
