Hayden Panettiere Discusses Her Brother’s Tragic Passing and Ongoing Heartbreak in Recent Interview

Hayden Panettiere has spoken candidly about the sudden loss of her brother Jansen in 2023, expressing that she will “always be heartbroken”over his passing. Jansen, who was just 28 years old, reportedly died due to an enlarged heart along with complications related to his aortic valve.

The Amber Alert star discussed her experience of losing her “only sibling”during an interview with People for their September 18, 2024 feature. She reminisced about feeling “lost”in the wake of her brother’s death, stating:

“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him. When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.”

While the actress is learning to navigate life without her younger brother, she admitted she has yet to fully heal from Jansen’s passing, recognizing that it might be a permanent struggle. Panettiere shared:

“I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.”

The Scream actress also reflected on the new perspective on life she gained following her brother’s death. After undergoing such a significant loss, she learned to choose her battles wisely and “not let little things”affect her. Hayden Panettiere emphasized that these experiences have fortified her; after enduring something “so horrific, so deep, so catastrophic,”she feels that “there’s not much that can really rock you.”

Hayden Panettiere shared her struggles with agoraphobia following her brother’s death

In dealing with her brother’s loss in 2023, Hayden Panettiere grappled with feelings of being stuck in a rut. She recounted to People how the relentless presence of paparazzi after Jansen’s death caused her to hesitate before stepping outside. She remarked:

“I had to see horrific paparazzi pictures of myself coming out of Jansen’s funeral, which happened in a very private place, and it was shocking. My agoraphobia came out, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past.”

She also mentioned how her physical appearance changed drastically with rapid weight gain during that difficult period. The stress and resulting cortisol levels contributed to her “ballooning out,”which affected her self-esteem.

In the interview, Hayden Panettiere revealed that she “didn’t feel confident to put on clothes and get out of the house.”She explained:

“It became a destructive hamster wheel of, ‘Do I feel good enough to go out?’”

Nevertheless, she recognized the importance of taking steps to overcome her rut. She found support from personal trainer Marnie Alton, whom she connected with through her publicist. Panettiere described how she began training with Alton and how they established an immediate sense of trust and rapport.

She fondly remembered their extended walks, which served as a therapeutic outlet for her to vent and share memories from the past. The actress noted that her trainer “empowered”her, leading to a positive reaction from her body to the workouts and the endorphins they produced. As her insecurities subsided, Hayden Panettiere found that her agoraphobia diminished as well.

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