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Hayden Panettiere‘s ex-boyfriend, Wladimir Klitschko, is paying tribute to the late actress on what would’ve been her 37th birthday. She died Sunday, Aug. 16, just five days prior.
“Today is Hayden’s birthday. Instead
of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world,” wrote Klitschko. “I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support. At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity. If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it. Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.”
Klitschko is a former professional boxer who won an Olympic gold medal for Ukraine at the 1996 Games in the super-heavyweight division. He and Panettiere dated on and off for nearly a decade beginning in 2009. They were engaged before Panettiere gave birth to their daughter, Kaya, in 2014, but their relationship ended in 2018 when Panettiere gave up custody of Kaya while struggling with postpartum depression and addiction.
“The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply,” Klitschko said in the days after her death. “She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya. She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”
