Hayden Panettiere‘s death continues to spark emotional reactions online. Skincare brand Neutrogena is now facing criticism over a recent statement about the late actress. The brand acknowledged that she felt “unsupported” during a difficult period in her life.
Neutrogena apologizes after Hayden Panettiere’s death and backlash
According to HuffPost, Neutrogena issued a public statement days after Panettiere’s death, following renewed attention to her past comments about the company.
The actress served as a Neutrogena spokesperson for more than a decade. In a May interview, she said she believed the company distanced itself from her after she publicly discussed her postpartum depression.
In its Instagram statement, Neutrogena said it was “deeply saddened” by Panettiere’s passing and acknowledged that it had made her “feel unsupported during a very difficult time.”
The company also announced plans for a major investment in a longtime community health partner. The funds will improve access to postpartum depression support. It said more details would be shared once those plans are finalized.
However, the statement quickly sparked backlash online. While Neutrogena disabled comments on its Instagram post, many users shared their reactions on X. Several fans questioned why the company apologized only after Panettiere’s death.
One user wrote, “Why did she have to die for them to say this?” Another commented, “Why wasn’t there an apology when she was still here?” Others said the statement felt overdue, with many arguing the actress should have received public support while she was alive.
The criticism follows Panettiere’s comments on Jay Shetty’s podcast, where she recalled being devastated after speaking openly about postpartum depression. She claimed she later learned Neutrogena did not plan to renew her contract following her public disclosure. Panettiere said the experience “really broke” her heart.
The backlash continues following the actress’ death, with many fans hoping the brand’s promised mental health investment leads to meaningful action. However, critics believe the apology came too late and expressed sadness that Neutrogena’s statement came only after Panettiere passed away.
Originally reported by Shweta Chakrawarty on Mandatory.
