Hayden Panettiere’s Mom Says 'Toxic Individual' Led to Her Death 

By Alex Backus and Joshua Rhett Miller. Newsweek is a Trust Project member.

Key points

• While Vogel did not identify anyone by name, she criticized Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, in an August 18 interview.
• Brook Jay, Founder & CEO of All Terrain-an experiential marketing agency in Chicago-told Newsweek the firm produced some "big missteps" in its response.
• Hayden Panettiere's mother blamed a "toxic" individual for her daughter's death as the actress' on-and-off boyfriend broke his silence and Neutrogena responded to mounting backlash Thursday.
• Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson spoke out Thursday for the first time since her death, releasing a statement through his attorney.
• "Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed, " Sloan Ellis, an attorney for Hickerson, informed Newsweek in an official note Thursday.

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Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, remarked that their estrangement was not "for lack of care or love, " but as of another person's involvement in her daughter's life. Here's what Vogel wrote in an official note to Entertainment Tonight.

Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death.

Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful.

I hope all remember Hayden for the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth. My heart is with you, Hayden. Mama.

"This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson, " Vogel informed NBC News.

"As has been publicly documented, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."

While the investigation is ongoing, multiple outlets have documented that Hickerson was at the scene when she died. Neutrogena Admits It Created Panettiere Feel 'Unsupported'.

Neutrogena additionally responded Thursday to Panettiere's death as fans renewed calls for a boycott and flooded the brand's social media posts with criticism.

"For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community. We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we created her feel unsupported during a highly tough time. This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be." Panettiere served as a Neutrogena brand ambassador for 10 years.

In a May interview on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, Panettiere made public that Neutrogena did not renew her contract after she publicly spoke concerning struggling with postpartum depression on Live with Kelly and Michael in 2015, saying it violated their "morals clause."

"Of all the things, too, that they would fire me over, this was the last thing I thought they would fire me over, " Panettiere informed Shetty. Fans pressed a boycott of Neutrogena after the interview.

In short, hayden Panettiere's Mom Says & #039; Toxic Individual& #039; Led to Her Death is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.