Hickerson and his brother Zach were at Panettiere’s apartment when authorities found her “unresponsive” on Aug. 16.

Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson shouts about her death while handcuffed after alleged bar fight

Hickerson and his brother Zach were at Panettiere’s apartment when authorities found her “unresponsive” on Aug. 16.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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September 13, 2026 1:32 p.m. ET

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Hayden Panettiere; Brian Hickerson. Credit:

Amy Sussman/Getty; Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

- Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were detained after a bar brawl in Greenville, S.C.

- The Hickerson brothers were with Panettiere when she died in August at age 36.

- While being handcuffed on Saturday, Brian was captured on video, yelling, “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died.”

Hayden Panettiere’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, recently spoke about the late actress while being detained by police after an alleged altercation at a Greenville, S.C., bar.

On Saturday night, officers responded to reports of an assault inside the Wild Wing Cafe, the Greenville Police Department told **. Upon arrival, they found Brian and his brother Zach caught in an altercation with several other patrons. The Hickerson brothers were subsequently detained while police investigated the scene.

Brian was eventually let go without charges. However, authorities determined that Zach was “highly intoxicated.” Per police, he began yelling profanities prompting his arrest on the charge of disorderly conduct. Zach was transported to the Greenville County Detention Center.

In a video of the incident posted to X, Brian is captured sitting on the ground while surrounding officers handcuff him. He then makes reference to Panettiere, shouting, “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died.”

Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson in 2019.

gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

In a separate video from inside the bar, obtained by TMZ, Brian is seen throwing a chair backwards while multiple people call for him to “stop.” In another clip, a man forcefully lifts him up from behind as another patron yells, “Let him go.”

An attorney for Brian Hickerson did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment.

Brian and Zach were with Panettiere at the apartment complex Judson Mill Lofts when she died on Aug. 16 in Greenville, S.C., five days before her 37th birthday. Authorities arrived on the scene to find her “unresponsive” and “in cardiac arrest.” Hickerson showed officers a “bag of medication,” per a police incident report, and didn’t become visibly emotional until the actress was declared dead.

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Per a 911 call, officials spoke about an apparent “overdose” while treating Panettiere, though the Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed that toxicology report results could take several weeks to determine the cause of death.

The preliminary investigation into Panettiere’s death has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, per police. The investigation remains active.

The *Heroes* star dated Brian on and off from 2018 to 2021. She began a relationship with the real estate developer and aspiring actor after she ended her engagement to Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shares an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.

Hayden Panettiere in 2023.

Walt Disney Television Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty

Panettiere later claimed that Brian physically and emotionally abused her throughout their relationship. Brian was arrested for alleged corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, assault, and intimidating Panettiere after alleged incidents between May 2019 and June 2020. He served 33 days of a 45-day county jail sentence after pleading no contest in April 2021.

Hickerson’s attorney Sloan Ellis issued a statement days after Panettiere’s death, stating, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, 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.”

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In the weeks since Panettiere’s death, a representative for the late actress has asked people not to speculate about what happened. “Many people who were not close to Hayden are using her death as an opportunity to fuel gossip and speculation about a situation they knew very little about,” her rep told *Us Weekly* last month. “It is deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those who knew and loved her and are actively grieving this tremendous loss.”

The statement added, “There is much more to this story than what is currently being discussed publicly, and those closest to Hayden are actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure that the truth comes to light and that justice is properly served.”

*If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at **1-800-799-7233**, or go to **thehotline.org**. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.*

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