Culture 4 min read By Trevor Kendall
Rose McGowan and Anna Paquin call for greater protections for child stars after Hayden Panettiere's death
Rose McGowan and Anna Paquin have called for tighter regulations to protect child actors, paying tribute to Hayden Panettiere following her death at age 36.
The death of Hayden Panettiere has reignited calls for stronger protections for child actors, with Rose McGowan and Anna Paquin among those speaking out about the industry's treatment of young performers. Both actresses shared tributes to Panettiere on Friday while criticizing what Paquin described as the "profoundly sad" experiences of former child stars.
Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes," "Nashville," and the "Scream" franchise, died at her home in South Carolina on August 16 at age 36. Her father, Skip, announced her death, describing her as "an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her." The official cause of death has not been disclosed, though 911 dispatch audio indicated medical personnel were treating her for a suspected overdose.
McGowan, who appeared alongside Panettiere in the "Scream" franchise, urged parents to keep children out of show business. "Rest in Power Hayden Panettiere. Don't put kids in show business," McGowan wrote on social media. "None of this is normal. May her spirit be free of those who orchestrated."
Paquin echoed that sentiment in an Instagram post, writing that "it's not a coincidence that so many former, specifically pre-sexualized female, child 'stars' have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends." She added: "We were not as protected by the 'systems' that look great on paper, as we are supposed to be."
Paquin also referenced other former child actors who have died, including Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase, calling them part of "a strange small club we belong to." She offered direct support to others in similar situations, writing: "Literally DM me. I believe you and I will stand by your side. You aren't alone."
She later clarified that she was speaking specifically about the experience of children on set who find themselves prematurely treated as "sex objects," while acknowledging that damage can occur outside the entertainment industry as well.
Panettiere's career began early, with her first on-screen appearance at 11 months old in a Playskool toy advertisement. She broke out as a child star in Disney's "Remember the Titans" and went on to appear in "Ally McBeal," "Raising Helen," "Racing Stripes," "Ice Princess," and "Bring It On: All or Nothing," all before turning 18.
In her first statement since her daughter's death, Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, spoke about her concerns regarding Brian Hickerson, the actor's former partner who was reportedly with her at the time of her death. Panettiere had claimed in her memoir that Hickerson domestically abused her, which he acknowledged in an interview with TMZ in May.
"This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson," Vogel told NBC News. "There is a lot of history in the past that Brian has enabled Hayden many times and this is why her father and I had been concerned for a long time about him."
Vogel noted the challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry, saying: "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."
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the industry, with "Heroes" co-star Sendhil Ramamurthy recalling how Panettiere supported "mistreated" background actors and "knew every crew member's name."
