The demands for skincare brand Neutrogena to confront an accusation made by Hayden Panettiere in May have been escalating over the past few months.
These calls intensified following the actor’s recent passing.
Neutrogena has now issued a response through an Instagram post.
In the Instagram post, which has disabled comments, Neutrogena refrained from delving into the specifics of why their long-standing partnership with Panettiere came to an end or addressing the claim that it was due to her discussion on postpartum depression.
The brand stated, “We are proud of our collaboration with her and acknowledge that we failed to provide adequate support during a challenging period. This does not align with Neutrogena’s values or aspirations.”
The Allegation
Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes, Bring it On: All or Nothing, and Nashville, served as a global brand ambassador for Neutrogena from 2005 to 2015.
After giving birth to a daughter in late 2014, she openly discussed her battle with postpartum depression on the TV show Live with Kelly and Michael in 2015.
Shortly after this, her partnership with Neutrogena came to an end.
During an interview with Jay Shetty on his podcast On Purpose in May, Panettiere alleged that Neutrogena had attempted to terminate her contract based on a morality clause due to her 2015 remarks.
“My representative at the time pointed out that it was unlawful to do so, and although she intervened that year, I sensed that I would not be welcomed back [as Neutrogena’s representative] the following year.”
Fans and co-stars mourned the death of 36-year-old actor Hayden Panettiere, best known for roles in Heroes and Nashville. Police are investigating the cause of her death, but said there are no signs of foul play.
Panettiere mentioned that no one from the company communicated with her after the incident in 2015.
“It made me realize and comprehend the perception of women experiencing postpartum depression and how misunderstood it is, along with the existing stigma,” she shared with Shetty.
The Backlash
Fans initiated a boycott against Neutrogena following the release of that podcast episode. One beauty influencer even incorporated the podcast audio in a “get-ready-with-me” video titled “Neutrogena hates women!”
With Panettiere’s recent passing, fans are once again expressing their dissatisfaction.
Over the past three days, they have been inundating Neutrogena’s Instagram and <