Brian Hickerson pursued another woman months before Hayden Panettiere’s death, private DMs reveal

Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, pursued another woman months before the actress’ death, Page Six has exclusively learned.

We have reviewed messages via Instagram and text between who is believed to be Hickerson and a now-26-year-old woman from Greenville, South Carolina, that demonstrate him repeatedly showing romantic interest in her.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told us she and Hickerson — who is also from Greenville, though he spent much of his time with Panettiere in Los Angeles — allegedly met at the downtown nightclub Cat’s Pajamas on the night of March 28 when she was with a friend.

The nature and status of Panettiere and Hickerson’s years-long relationship at the time is unclear, and we cannot independently confirm whether there was any overlap.

The Greenville woman admitted to us she was “heavily intoxicated” when she allegedly met Hickerson and didn’t “remember much of that night,” which she relayed to him when she noticed he had followed her on Instagram and sent her a direct message the next day.

(Though Hickerson has since deactivated his account, the name @brianhickerson_ is still tagged in public posts. The landing page, however, no longer exists.)

“Great meeting you last night pretty lady. I owe you a date. I’m heading to [C]ity Tavern for a slushie in a bit you should join,” read the March 29 DM that appears to have been sent by Hickerson.

The woman claimed to us she did not know who he was and had “no knowledge” of his connection to Panettiere, noting that his account at the time featured very few and “outdated” photos. The woman showed us text messages between her and a friend from that time that appear to corroborate her claims.

The woman responded to Hickerson on April 1, “Hey Brian! I’m sorry I missed this — I’m awful with my inbox. I have to be so honest, I don’t remember much of that night. What happened? 😂😅.”

She added, “I’m sorry I missed your slushy invite but I for sure would not have made it. Today is the first day I’ve had a clear mind since Saturday night.”

Hickerson replied by saying she “didn’t seem too drunk” to him and that he was out that night because his brother, whom he did not name, “was in town.”

“You wanted to make sure I took you somewhere nice on a date which clearly throws Waffle House out the window so I guess Halls [Chophouse] might have to do if you wanna meet each other properly,” he continued.

“Just moved here from Los Angeles so it was nice meeting a pretty girl in Greenville out of the blue. I also realized after I reached out on instagram you gave me your number so I’ll shoot you a text if that’s better.”

The woman messaged back that she had no recollection of his story but did not indicate she didn’t believe him. She then asked where specifically they met at the nightclub before inquiring, “How old are you? I’m 25.”

She added that she’d “definitely prefer to meet properly” and apologized if Hickerson felt “pushed” into taking her to the upscale steakhouse, playfully noting that she saves Waffle House for “the 12th-ish date.”

Hickerson claimed they met “in the middle of the dance floor” and insisted he planned on taking her to Halls “regardless,” agreeing that Waffle House was a “very intimate” location for a first date.

“I’m 36 but I read on a 25 year old level. Is that a deal breaker?” Hickerson, now 37, quipped.

The woman — who made a joke about her drunk alter ego — reacted to that message with a laugh-cry emoji and suggested they “do Halls and see how [they] get along” given that they should only go to Waffle House in comfy clothes like “PJs” after they’ve “known each other for a while.”

Hickerson responded by saying the woman was “just as adorable as [she] was the other night” before asking where she’s from originally.

Hickerson — who has openly struggled with substance abuse and addiction over the years — added, “I swear ten vodka sodas deep I heard Alabama.”

The woman wondered whether Hickerson got that information from her friend, who is from Alabama, clarifying that she is from Greenville.

Hickerson then said he “grew up here as well” before inquiring about where the woman went to school, but she did not respond.

She told us she “stopped corresponding” because she “lost interest” in Hickerson, explaining she wasn’t keen on their age gap and was uncomfortable with having no memory of their meeting.

Hickerson then appears to have texted the woman twice using a number that matches one we have for him. On April 2, he wrote, “Hey you it’s Brian Hickerson. Figured I’d text you since you don’t check Insta.”

After she did not reply, he messaged again on April 4, “Im gonna be out of town for work till next Monday. So how about we shoot for halls mid week?”

Again the woman did not write back. Hours later, Hickerson replied to her Instagram Story in which she had urged anyone who didn’t have a church buddy for Easter Sunday — the following day — to reach out so she could join them.

Hickerson responded, “Goodness you must be reading my mind haha I was gonna skip tomorrow because it was just me. Where do you go?” The woman did not engage.

He attempted to reach her one more time when he texted on April 14, “Hey hey, I’m back in town this week. When am I taking you to hall’s?”

The woman did not get back to him, and they never spoke again.

She told us the next time she heard his name was when news broke that Panettiere had died suddenly on Aug. 16 at an Airbnb in Greenville — where the actress had been staying with Hickerson.

“I vaguely remembered the name and began looking through my direct messages,” the woman explained. “The possibility that I had unknowingly become connected to a high-profile relationship, especially in these unfortunate circumstances, was beyond my comprehension.”

It was during this time that the woman claimed she learned of Hickerson’s documented history of domestic violence toward Panettiere.

She claimed Hickerson never mentioned the “Heroes” star and that she was not aware of the timeline of their tumultuous relationship, which began in 2018.

Hickerson’s attorney declined to comment on this story, and Panettiere’s rep did not respond to our inquiry.

Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were present when cops and medical personnel arrived to the Airbnb where the former — who had been asleep in the bedroom — found an “unresponsive” Panettiere sitting in a chair in the living room. (Neither Brian nor Zach has been accused of being involved in her death.)

Zach, 38, identified Panettiere to responding officers as his “brother’s girlfriend,” though the nature and status of their relationship at the time of her death remains unclear.

Brian and Panettiere were last photographed together at Los Angeles International Airport on March 2 — less than a month before he met the Greenville woman.

At the time, the “Remember the Titans” star was wearing sunglasses and using crutches to walk, insisting she was dealing with pinched nerves in her lower back.

In April 2021, following one of his multiple arrests, Brian pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant. He was subsequently sentenced to 45 days in an LA county jail, four years of probation, domestic violence classes and restitution, while Panettiere was granted a five-year protective order, which expired this past April.

Her neighbor recently told us she saw Brian with Panettiere at her West Hollywood apartment complex many times while the protective order was active, detailing the two times she saw the “Nashville” star being taken out of her unit via gurney. Brian’s attorney declined to comment on that story.

Panettiere — who was also open about her struggles with substance abuse and addiction — died of a suspected “overdose,” per the Greenville Police Department dispatch. She was 36.

Brian went on to show responding officers a “bag of medication” she had allegedly been taking.

According to the autopsy report, “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.” However, the investigation — which did not initially indicate “any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances” — remains “active and ongoing” as the the Greenville County Coroner’s Office awaits toxicology results to determine the cause and manner of her death.

“While an investigation is ongoing and further developments are coming to light, we are confident that justice will soon be served,” a rep for Panettiere — who publicly detailed her abusive relationship with Brian in May — recently told us.

Meanwhile, Brian — who has previously confessed to being abusive toward Panettiere — broke his silence on her death and associated investigation on Aug. 20, telling us via his attorney, “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.

“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

In June, Brian made a chilling comment to an Instagram user who asked him, “Some woman dates you???”

The aspiring actor replied, “Yes, its wonderful if she gets out of line I just Google myself and say hey stop it this is what I’m allegedly capable of.”

The Greenville woman told us she does not believe he was referring to her.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).