As Hollywood continues to mourn the death of Hayden Panettiere, some are taking aim at the way the industry treats child stars.
On Friday, Rose McGowan and Anna Paquin both penned tributes to the late actress, who died at age 36, while both taking aim at the “profoundly sad” treatment of child actors.
“Rest in Power Hayden Panettiere. Don’t put kids in show business. None of this is normal. May her spirit be free of those who orchestrated,” wrote McGowan, who is a fellow alum of the Scream franchise, playing Tatum Riley in the 1996 original before Panettiere starred as Kirby Reed in Scream 4 (2011) and Scream VI (2023).
Paquin, a fellow child star who also had a cameo in Scream 4, explained that kids aren’t “protected” by the industry, which she linked to the “untimely ends” of Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase.
“It’s not a coincidence that so many former, specifically pre-sexualized female, child ‘stars’ have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends,” she wrote on Instagram. “We were not as protected by the ‘systems’ that look great on paper, as we are supposed to be.”
Paquin added, “RIP [Hayden Panettiere], [Michelle Trachtenberg], [Daveigh Chase] and too many others. It’s a strange small club we belong to and you are worthy of support no matter how our industry made us feel. Literally DM me. I believe you and I will stand by your side. You aren’t alone. Let’s have each other’s backs. It might make public disclosure less terrifying.”
Having made her first onscreen appearance at 11 months old in a Playskool toy commercial, Panettiere broke out as a child star in Disney’s Remember the Titans (2000), going on to roles in Ally McBeal (2002), Raising Helen (2004), Tiger Cruise (2004), Racing Stripes (2005), Ice Princess (2005), Malcolm in the Middle (2003-’05) and Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), all before turning 18.
On Monday, Panettiere’s rep confirmed the actress’ death to Deadline, as police in Greenville, South Carolina initially announced that no foul play was suspected. An initial autopsy found no signs of trauma.
