Hayden Panettiere unexpectedly passed away on August 16, 2026. The actress, who portrayed ‘Lizzie Spaulding’ in Guiding Light and later became well-known for her roles in Ally McBeal, Malcolm in the Middle, Heroes, and Nashville. The actress had to give up custody of her only daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko. She once spoke about the heart-wrenching moment and why she chose to relinquish Kaya’s full custody.
Hayden Panettiere revealed why she gave up custody of her only daughter, Kaya
Hayden welcomed her daughter, Kaya, with her ex-fiancé, former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, in December 2014. After the birth of Kaya, Hayden experienced severe postpartum depression and also battled addiction. After Hayden and Klitschko separated in 2018, custody of Kaya was awarded to her father, which was a painful moment for Hayden.
To give Kaya a stable and secure life, Hayden gave up full custody of her then three-year-old daughter. Hayden’s relationship with her daughter, Kaya, has always been a subject of public curiosity. There had been reports that Hayden had abandoned her daughter. The actress later pushed back, stating that she voluntarily chose to let Kaya live with her father because she believed it was the best option for her daughter at the time.
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