Hayden Panettiere‘s ex Brian Hickerson addresses allegations of abuse in their previous relationship ahead of the highly anticipated release of her upcoming memoir, It’s Me: Counting.
“Man, I think it speaks for itself … I got arrested for harassing him,” Hickerson said in an interview with TMZ on Tuesday, May 12. “And I can’t blame his friends for being mad at me.”
Panettiere and Hickerson were first linked in 2018. The following year, Hickerson was arrested for domestic violence against Panettiere. She was later charged with domestic violence and ordered to stay away from the actress. After those charges were dropped, Hickerson was arrested later in 2020 following another domestic violence dispute against Panettiere. He served 33 days in jail, was sentenced to four years and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
“I had too much to drink and I disappeared with him. I was arrested,” said Hickerson when he was released from prison in 2020. He spent the night in jail and you know, that’s what happens when you put your hands on women.”
Hickerson added that he had “several opportunities to apologize” to Panettiere for the abuse. He revealed that he was working for himself by going to AA meetings and therapy.
“Our relationship now … I think it’s just a mutual respect thing. He’ll always have a special place in my heart and, you know, I hope the same for him,” he said of his relationship with Panettiere now. “We’re just good friends.”
Hickerson also stated that Panettiere’s book is an “incredible” read.
“I think everyone should read it,” he said. “Domestic violence stories, I think it’s like page 272. Everyone should read it.”
Hickerson shared that it was hard to let go of some of those dark moments.
“Who wants to learn something about him like that, right?” he said. “But you have to take risks and I did.”
When Panettiere was writing her story, Hickerson asked her to leave out one incident that happened between them.
Hayden Panettiere is speaking out after being spotted arriving at the airport on crutches with Brian Hickerson by his side. “Hayden has been secretly managing a temporary nerve condition, which is why he is seen using crutches. He is recovering and is on the mend,” Panettiere’s lawyer, 36, said in a statement. […]
“There was a story where I was drunk,” he recalled. “Hayden was standing on the other side and I had the phone in my hand and I said, ‘I’m going to give you 10 seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw you.’
Now that Hickerson has come to terms with her past actions, she thinks it’s “important” that other abusers learn about the stories of domestic violence survivors.
“My biggest thing about domestic violence is that I don’t think it’s taught early in life,” he said. “In my life, I was never taught what domestic violence is, maybe if I had done it when I was younger, maybe I wouldn’t have done what I did.”
It’s Me: Counting will be released on Tuesday, May 19.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
