Hayden Panettiere, who passed away at 36, intended to visit her daughter, Kaya, in Ukraine. Close friend Erick Orellana noted her unwavering love for Kaya.

Published on: Aug 18, 2026, 20:40:55 IST

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Hayden Panettiere had intended to visit her daughter, Kaya, in Ukraine before her untimely passing at the age of 36 on Sunday afternoon.

“I last saw her a few months ago,” stated Erick Orellana, the hairstylist and close friend of the Heroes alum, in an exclusive interview with Page Six on Monday.

"She was talking about how she wanted to take a vacation, and that she wanted to go and see her daughter. Her daughter was always her absolute priority. She loved her so much."

Erick Orellana opens up about Hayden Panettiere's bond with daughter

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Orellana, who has collaborated with Panettiere for three years, highlighted that the latter "loved spending time" with Kaya, 11, frequently showcasing the pre-teen's photographs and sharing stories about her.

"Her daughter was the absolute light of her life," the stylist said. "She lit up when she spoke about her. Everything she did revolved around her."

Reflecting on Panettiere's tragic passing, Orellana stated, “I can't imagine that this is anything but accidental because she just loved her daughter and would never have left her.”

Where is Kaya?

Kaya has resided in Ukraine with her father, Wladimir Klitschko, who is the ex-fiancé of Panettiere, since 2018. This arrangement followed the decision of the Scream 4 actress to relinquish custody during her struggle with postpartum depression and addiction.

The actress has preserved a cordial relationship with Klitschko, with whom she was in a relationship from 2009 until 2018. Recently, she expressed her admiration for the “really intense, incredible bond” she shared with Kaya before her passing.

Hayden Panettiere spoke about Kaya

Speaking with Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast in May, she said, “I go travel as much as I can. I see her. I do spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her, but we talk about really deep things.”

"That was incredibly difficult," she continued. "The fact that my child wasn't going to be with me all day, every day was … you can't put words to it. It's just a really intense feeling or multiple feelings really layered together."

On Sunday, Hayden's father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her passing to Page Six through a statement, stating, "She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her on-screen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."

Hayden Panettiere's health issues: New details emerge

The star of Scream 4 was reportedly experiencing significant back issues earlier this year. Her longtime hairdresser and friend, Erick Orellana, mentioned that Panettiere was in "really severe" pain, which began to affect her mobility.

He stated, "It was even hard for her to move her legs."

In an interview with Page Six, Orellana said that she knows she faced difficulties with her back earlier this year.

Another source informed the publication that the actress appeared somewhat fatigued at times earlier this year. However, she was known to be a night owl and had several responsibilities. Panettiere occasionally dealt with anxiety and would sometimes take medication for it, which could occasionally influence her speech, Page Six reported, citing the source.

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