Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson reacts to memorial snub

Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, “understands” why he was left off the guest list for her celebration of life, which is set for Saturday, one month after her death.

Brian and his brother, Zach — who was also snubbed from the memorial — are reportedly not fighting the organizers’ decision to exclude them, TMZ reported Friday.

The brothers are said to recognize the sensitivity surrounding the memorial and respect the decision not to invite them, sources close to them told the outlet.

Despite being excluded from the service, Brian, 37, and Zach, 38, reportedly hope it serves as a “beautiful celebration of [Panettiere], her life and her legacy.”

The sources said the brothers are still struggling to process her death, with Brian in particular having a difficult time adjusting to life without her.

Brian has reportedly lost around 40 pounds since Panettiere’s death and has struggled to regain a “sense of normalcy,” according to the sources.

They added that he still has moments when he expects to hear from Panettiere and believes the situation could somehow turn out to be a “horrible dream.”

The brothers have also continued to deny any involvement in Panettiere’s death.

As Page Six previously reported, Panettiere’s loved ones will gather Saturday at a Malibu, California, church to celebrate her life.

Around 150 family members, close friends and former colleagues are expected to attend the private service.

Panettiere died at age 36 on Aug. 16 in Greenville, South Carolina, her family confirmed.

She was reportedly discovered unresponsive by Zach while Brian was sleeping in another room. Zach later claimed that Brian performed CPR and administered Narcan after waking up from a nap.

Page Six previously obtained 911 dispatch audio in which a possible “overdose” was mentioned.

A recent report alleged that Panettiere took a single oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl on the morning of her death.

Her representative, however, called the claim “unverified hearsay” in a statement to Page Six and said her death “remains under investigation.”

Brian, meanwhile, was handcuffed by police Sept. 12 following an alleged altercation at a Greenville, South Carolina, bar, where he was heard shouting, “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died.”

Ahead of the one-month anniversary of Panettiere’s death, Brian was asked by a photographer at a Greenville gas station Wednesday how he was doing, to which he replied, “How do you think I’m doing?”