Actress Hayden Panettiere recently addressed the criticism she received after her interview with People magazine, sharing her thoughts in an emotional Instagram post on September 22.

During the interview, conducted on September 18, Panettiere became visibly emotional while discussing the unexpected loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, in 2023. Some viewers commented on her speech, noticing she seemed to slur her words, which raised concern.

Though the interview covered difficult topics, Panettiere appeared upbeat when talking about her daughter in a separate video.

However, she felt the need to clarify her demeanor, explaining she had been sleep-deprived from caring for her dog, which had undergone emergency surgery. The interview, which involved an eight-hour shoot followed by a one-hour on-camera segment, left her understandably drained.

Panettiere’s representative, recognizing her fatigue, stepped in to cut the interview short and even suggested rescheduling or doing a follow-up over Zoom. However, Panettiere was assured that such steps weren’t necessary as the interview felt genuine and emotional.

She admitted that she hadn’t viewed the interview before it aired but highlighted the broader issue of social media toxicity and the damaging effects of clickbait headlines. Panettiere stressed the importance of mental health and how hurtful comments can affect someone’s well-being.

Despite the backlash, she expressed gratitude to those who supported her, reminding everyone that she is, like anyone, a work in progress. Panettiere hopes for greater empathy and understanding as we all navigate our individual journeys of healing and growth.