Neutrogena Acknowledges It Made Hayden Panettiere Feel Unsupported, Pledges Investment in Postpartum Depression Care

Neutrogena has issued a public statement acknowledging that it made actress Hayden Panettiere feel unsupported during a difficult time, following her death at age 36 and a wave of public anger directed at the brand she represented for nearly a decade.

In an Instagram post, the skincare company said it was "deeply saddened" by Panettiere's passing. It also said it is making a significant investment in a long-standing community health partner to help give more women access to support, including care for postpartum depression (Variety).

The statement follows a backlash that gathered force on social media after Panettiere's death, with users calling for a boycott of Neutrogena. The anger stems from allegations Panettiere herself made public in the months before she died.

In her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere alleged that Neutrogena tried to end their partnership because she spoke openly about the postpartum depression she experienced after the birth of her daughter, Kaya. Speaking on the On Purpose podcast, she said the brand claimed her public discussion of postpartum depression violated a "morals clause" — a contractual provision that allows a company to terminate a deal if it believes a spokesperson's conduct damages its image.

Panettiere said her representative told her Neutrogena could not legally fire her for discussing postpartum depression, which kept the partnership alive that year. She was not invited back the following year (Variety).

Panettiere, best known for starring in the television series Heroes and Nashville, died in August 2026. Reuters, citing ABC News, reported her death on 17 August (Reuters). The Associated Press reported that no cause of death has been determined and that her death remains under investigation (AP).

Emergency workers declared Panettiere dead at 2:31 p.m. after attempting lifesaving measures, according to AP. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was at the apartment where she died (AP).

Police have said there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The DEA has recently joined the probe, Variety reported (Variety).

Stars from across the entertainment industry paid tribute to Panettiere following her death (AP).

Neutrogena's statement — acknowledging that it let down a spokesperson who spoke openly about a common medical condition — arrives after those allegations had been published in Panettiere's own words. Whether the pledged investment in postpartum depression care is enough to shift public sentiment is something the company will now face in the open.