Hayden Panettiere admits she still has 'feelings' for convicted felon ex Brian Hickerson and hints at their relationship status... after he served time for domestic violence
Hayden Panettiere has revealed she still has feelings for her on-off convicted felon boyfriend Brian Hickerson in a candid new interview.
Over the course of their turbulent relationship Brian faced multiple domestic violence charges, and in 2021 he served time for injuring her.
However, they have been spotted together on more than one occasion since November 2022, sending up a cloud of rumors about a possible reconciliation.
While speaking with the New York Times, Hayden, 33, trod gingerly around the subject, saying they became friends again while pursuing their sobriety but insisting their relationship was 'contingent on him continuing on this road of recovery.'
Brian was in her apartment during the interview, and although she repeatedly called him 'babe,' she did not directly answer the question of whether they were officially back together, saying simply: 'There are feelings there, yes.'
Side by side: Hayden Panettiere has revealed she still has feelings for her on-off convicted felon boyfriend Brian Hickerson in a candid new interview; pictured 2018
Candor: While speaking with the New York Times , Hayden, 33, trod gingerly around the subject, saying they became friends again while pursuing their sobriety
She defended her decision to allow him to be part of her life again, maintaining: 'I did not do any of this lightly.'
On the subject of the time he spent behind bars, Hayden said: 'He knows he deserved what happened to him.'
Hayden took up with Brian in 2018, when she was in the depths of her struggles with drink and opioids and had recently split from Ukrainian boxing star Wladimir Klitschko, the father of her eight-year-old daughter Kaya.
Brian was first charged with domestic violence against Hayden in 2019, and although she got a protective order in connection with that case the charges were dropped.
Then on Valentine's Day 2020 Brian was arrested for domestic violence, with police saying he hit Hayden 'with a closed fist on the right side of her face,' TMZ reported.
'I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me in the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,' Hayden declared after his arrest. 'I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again.'
Brian found himself facing down eight charges and eventually pled no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.
He was sentenced to 45 days in county jail in April 2021 and served 13 days the following month, on top of which he had to pay a $500 fine and is still on probation.
The way they were: Over the course of their turbulent relationship Brian faced multiple domestic violence charges, and in 2021 he served time for injuring her; pictured 2019
However: They have been spotted together on more than one occasion since November 2022, sending up a cloud of rumors about a possible reconciliation; pictured 2018
Last July Brian said he and Hayden were 'just friends' and were 'absolutely not' romantically involved with one another anymore.
His remarks came shortly after Hayden told People that when it came to her equation with Brian she was 'trying to live in a place of forgiveness.'
With regard to the abuse, she said: 'None of it is OK, and I want to make sure that everybody knows that. But I am open to people who are willing to get help and make amends. He's gone to treatment and done his time.'
Brian was by Hayden's side last month at a celebration of life for her brother Jansen, who was found dead at his apartment in February at the age of just 28.
'Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen's sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications,' his family said in a statement.
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