Hayden Panettiere’s ‘A Breed Apart’ Director Claims an ‘Intervention’ Was Discussed Before Her Death

Hayden Panettiere’s A Breed Apart director Griff Furst was “rooting for” the actress to conquer her addiction struggles ahead of her death.

“I was rooting for Hayden to beat the addiction she had spoke about openly and publicly herself in her [This Is Me: A Reckoning memoir],” Furst, 44, said in an Instagram video shared Wednesday, August 19. “No matter how certain you are that an actor or director is in a bad situation, you don’t have the proof or the benefit of the time to verify.”

Panettiere worked with co-directors Griff and Nathan Furst on 2025’s A Breed Apart, the actress’ first film after a four-year acting hiatus.

“When we wrapped, I stayed in touch with her team,” Griff alleged on Wednesday. “What eventually got determined was that she might need an intervention, and I was asked to participate. I said yes, and that intervention did not happen, at least not that I’m aware of.”

According to Griff, he wasn’t the one “leading the charge” to organize the alleged intervention.

Panettiere, who had long been candid about her substance abuse struggles, died on Sunday, August 16, in South Carolina. She was 36.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, shared in a statement via her rep. “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 onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

In addition to her father, Hayden is survived by her mother, Lesley Vogel, and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. (The Heroes alum’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at age 28 from an undiagnosed heart condition.)

Hayden’s cause of death has not been confirmed. Local authorities responded to a 911 call about an “unresponsive female” after an apparent overdose. Upon arrival, the individual was identified as Hayden.

“I wasn’t in South Carolina, I don’t know what happened,” Griff said on Wednesday, referring to his previous comments that Hayden didn’t appear alright while A Breed Apart was in production. “I will say [that] it is my opinion, and it is what I saw on my own set [of] somebody fighting to stay sober who deserved better company around them that what I around them than what I observed.”

Griff further claimed that Hayden’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present on the set. Hickerson dated the former child star from 2018 to 2020, splitting amid domestic violence allegations. He was also present at the scene of Hayden’s death.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).