Wladimir Klitschko has spoken out for the first time about the death of his former fiancée and mother of his daughter, Hayden Panettiere. The actress passed away on August 16 at the age of 36. Details of the athlete's reaction are reported by Kursiv LifeStyle... reports the website infohub.kz.
On his social media page, the boxer posted a joint photo with Panettiere and their daughter Kaya. In the caption, he wrote: "Our family is in deep shock and grief."
Klitschko admitted that Panettiere's death is a heavy loss for him. According to him, although the actress was no longer his partner, she remained an important part of his life and the mother of their child.
He also addressed his daughter directly. He promised to always speak of Kaya's mother with respect and to do everything possible to ensure she remembers what kind of person Panettiere was. "People as young and talented as Hayden should not leave this world so early," Klitschko added.
Furthermore, the boxer expressed condolences to the actress's parents, friends, and fans, asking them to respect the family's privacy during this difficult time.
Klitschko's post has garnered 232,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Users and family acquaintances are expressing words of support for the athlete and his daughter. "She will always be with you, protecting your family," "Heartbroken. My condolences on your profound loss," "Stay strong to get through this," they write.
Panettiere and Klitschko began dating in 2009. They announced their engagement in 2013, and in December 2014, their daughter Kaya was born. They separated in 2018.
After the breakup, Kaya remained with her father. He was granted full custody, and she moved with him to Europe. Panettiere maintained contact with her daughter, regularly communicating via video calls and in person.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that authorities are still investigating the circumstances of Hayden Panettiere's death, with U.S. media not ruling out an overdose. She died on Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina.