For months, demands have been growing for skincare brand Neutrogena to address an accusation by Hayden Panettiere made in May. The calls intensified following the actor’s recent passing. Neutrogena has now broken its silence with a statement on Instagram, although comments on the post are disabled. The brand did not elaborate on the reasons behind ending its long-standing partnership with Panettiere or directly address the claim that it was due to her discussion of postpartum depression.
In its statement, Neutrogena expressed pride in its past collaboration with Panettiere but acknowledged that she felt unsupported during a challenging period. The brand emphasized that this behavior does not align with its values. Panettiere, known for her roles in various TV series, was a global ambassador for Neutrogena from 2005 to 2015. After publicly sharing her battle with postpartum depression in 2015, her partnership with the brand was terminated.
During an interview on the podcast “On Purpose” with Jay Shetty earlier this year, Panettiere claimed that Neutrogena attempted to terminate her contract in 2015 due to her remarks about postpartum depression. Following this incident, she did not receive any communication from the company. This experience shed light on the stigma and misconceptions surrounding postpartum depression for Panettiere.
Following the release of the podcast episode, fans initiated a boycott against Neutrogena, with one influencer even incorporating the podcast audio into a video criticizing the brand. After Panettiere’s tragic passing, supporters have renewed their demands for Neutrogena to address the situation publicly. Social media platforms have been flooded with calls for accountability from the company.
Neutrogena responded to the outcry by expressing deep sorrow over Panettiere’s death and recognizing her as a valued member of their community. The brand refrained from addressing the allegations immediately after the actor’s demise out of respect for her family. Neutrogena commended Panettiere’s bravery in speaking out and stated that her actions had sparked important discussions, leading to increased awareness of the issue. The brand pledged to make a substantial investment in a community health partner to offer more women access to support services for postpartum depression. Further details on these initiatives will be shared once they are implemented.