Just days after Hayden Panettieredied at the age of 36, her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shared a daughter, is celebrating what would have been the actress’ 37th birthday.
“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,” Klitschko said in a tribute post on X. The boxing pro thanked friends and fans of Panettiere who have shown support in the time since her sudden death on Sunday, Aug. 16.
“At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity,” Klitschko said. “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.”
Klitschko concluded the caption, which accompanied a radiant photo of Panettiere, with another birthday send-off to the late actress. “You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten,” he said.
At the time of Panettiere’s death, Klitschko held full custody of their daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko. Earlier this week, Klitschko published a separate postmourning the loss, in which he wrote, “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.”
He added, “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. 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.”
On Sunday, the Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina responded to “a report of an unresponsive female” and administered medical assistance on-site. Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation into her death has been joined by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which will assist the Greenville City Police Department.
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