Hayden Panettiere Hired Private Security to Keep Brian Hickerson Away

Hayden Panettiere reportedly took extra precautions to protect herself after her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson returned to her life.

According to a source who spoke with Us Weekly, the actress hired private security after Hickerson allegedly refused to leave her home during a temporary stay earlier this year.

The source claimed that Hickerson told Panettiere he needed somewhere to stay because he had no money and blamed his past criminal charges on her. She reportedly allowed him to stay temporarily, but he allegedly refused to leave.

“He would always take advantage of her and wouldn’t leave, so she hired private security to not only remove him, but to keep him away from her,” the source told Us Weekly.

The source further claimed that the Heroes star discovered Hickerson had allegedly installed cameras inside her home. Her building’s homeowners association also reportedly warned residents about him, according to the source.

At one point, the private security guard allegedly lived with Panettiere to ensure Hickerson stayed away.

The claims come after Panettiere died August 16 at age 36. Hickerson was reportedly with her when she died in South Carolina. Her cause and manner of death have not yet been determined, and authorities have said their preliminary investigation has not indicated foul play.

Hickerson, 37, and Panettiere had an on-and-off relationship beginning in 2018. Their relationship previously made headlines after Hickerson was arrested and later convicted in connection with a domestic violence case involving Panettiere. He served 33 days in jail in 2021.

Despite their troubled history, the pair reconnected in recent years. Panettiere had previously said she forgave Hickerson and that he had sought treatment.

The new allegations offer another glimpse into the complicated relationship between the two before Panettiere’s death.