Ruby Rose shares alleged messages from Hayden Panettiere about her relationship with estranged mum
Actor Ruby Rose has shared messages allegedly sent between her and Hayden Panettiere before her death, in which she opened up about her strained relationship with her mum.
Heroes’ star Panettiere tragically passed away on Sunday (16 August) at just 36.
In a statement, a representative for Panettiere said: "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.
"She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her - and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
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Following her death, Panettiere’s estranged mother Lesley Vogel also spoke out, saying that she felt her daughter 'sadly lost her way' over the years.
She told NBC: "I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself and I think Hayden sadly lost her way and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.
"I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry - it is a struggle and it's a very challenging industry and it's not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.”
On Threads, Rose, 40, has shared screenshots of iMessage conversations between her and a contact named ‘Hayden’, who she says is the late Hollywood star.
In one of the messages, Rose allegedly tells Panettiere: "… Always struggle to separate from their parents. It’s an unnatural position to be placed in.
"They did not act or behave like mothers, so we are wounded from them, but the idea of a mother is still so powerful to us."
The first part of the message is cut off, but a response from ‘Hayden’ read: “All of that lands.”
In a follow up message, Panettiere allegedly replied: "I was sobbing over her cruelty yesterday thinking, ‘My god, I’m 36 and she can still cause this kind of pain. I’m her only child left and this is how she wants to handle the situation?!"
The iMessage exchange did not include dates or any further context and Rose shared them to Threads without comment.
In another message thread, Rose says she is with one of their friends, and Panettiere allegedly said: "I'd love to do a podcast/Anthony Bourdain show where we talk about issues and then go to the ends of the earth to find solutions."
'I just want you to be my mom'
Panettiere had previously spoken about the breakdown in her relationship with her mum.
Vogel managed Panettiere’s acting career from childhood, but at 19, Panettiere ended their professional relationship, saying she wanted Vogel to simply be her mother.
During a May 2026 appearance on Jay Shetty‘s podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Panettiere opened up about her complicated relationship, saying she viewed Vogel as her 'boss'.
“Everything was business,” she recalled. “I can't even remember a time where she wasn't a momager.
"There were periods of time as I got older where we spent a lot of time travelling on the road together and I was the only person there.
"I became the confidant and the assistant and the therapist and the shoulder to cry on and everything but her child.”
She severed their professional relationship, telling her, 'I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom'.
Panettiere appeared to be estranged from her mother at the time of her death.
Speaking to US Weekly early this year, she said: "Unfortunately, we don't have a relationship right now. But that doesn't mean that I don't leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day."
Topics: Hayden Panettiere
Claire Reid