Months have passed since demands grew for Neutrogena to address an accusation made by Hayden Panettiere in May, escalating further after the actor’s recent passing. Neutrogena has now broken its silence through an Instagram post. The post, devoid of user comments, vaguely acknowledged feelings of unsupportiveness towards Panettiere during a challenging time without delving into specifics about the termination of their long-lasting collaboration or the alleged link to her discussion on postpartum depression.
Panettiere, recognized for roles in “Heroes,” “Bring it On: All or Nothing,” and “Nashville,” served as a global brand ambassador for Neutrogena between 2005 and 2015. Following the birth of her daughter in late 2014 and a candid revelation about postpartum depression on “Live with Kelly and Michael” in 2015, her partnership with Neutrogena abruptly ceased. During an episode of Jay Shetty’s podcast “On Purpose” in May, Panettiere claimed that Neutrogena had attempted to dismiss her for her 2015 remarks by invoking a morality clause in her contract, resulting in her non-renewal the following year.
Expressing disappointment at the lack of communication from Neutrogena post-incident, Panettiere highlighted the prevailing misconceptions and stigma surrounding postpartum depression. Subsequently, a wave of backlash emerged, with fans organizing a boycott against Neutrogena post-podcast release. The aftermath of Panettiere’s demise reignited public outrage, with supporters flooding Neutrogena’s social media accounts, urging the company to address the allegations publicly.
Neutrogena’s Instagram response expressed deep sadness over Panettiere’s passing, recognizing her as a cherished member of their community. The brand refrained from an immediate response following the actor’s death, citing respect for her family. Neutrogena praised Panettiere’s bravery in speaking out and vowed to contribute to broader awareness by investing in community health initiatives to support women dealing with postpartum depression, promising further details on their plans in due course.