Who is Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend?

Hayden Panettiere was in an on-and-off relationship with Brian Hickerson since 2018.

The couple had a tumultuous relationship up until the “Heroes” actress was found dead by an acquaintance inside a South Carolina home on Aug. 16, 2026.

Keep scrolling to read more about Panettiere’s rocky romance with Hickerson through the years.

What is Brian’s career?

Hickerson is originally from South Carolina, where his family still resides.

He moved to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in real estate development and to break into the acting industry.

However, Hickerson has limited acting credits, including an appearance in the 2017 thriller film “M.F.A.”

When did Brian and Hayden meet?

Panettiere and Hickerson were first romantically linked in 2018.

That August, the pair was photographed at a screening of “Breaking & Exiting” in Los Angeles.

A source told Us Weekly that the “Nashville” alum “seemed very happy and in great spirits and they were having [a] fun night together.”

The insider added that the couple “seemed cute together.”

The following month, a source told the outlet Hickerson and Panettiere “were very affectionate and sat next to each other the entire time” while grabbing brunch with friends.

“When their two friends went exploring the space, they stayed behind and remained close to each other talking and kissing,” the insider shared.

What happened during their relationship?

Hickerson and Panettiere’s romance was filled with ups and downs.

In May 2019, Hickerson was arrested for domestic violence due to an alleged incident with the “Bring It On: All or Nothing” star.

At the time, Panettiere and Hickerson were drinking in Hollywood the night before the physical altercation at their home. After police interviewed the couple, they took Hickerson into custody for felony domestic violence for allegedly starting the fight.

TMZ reported that redness and marks were visible on Panettiere’s body.

Hickerson was charged with felony domestic violence later that month and ordered to stay 100 yards from Panettiere and not contact her.

In September 2019, Hickerson’s domestic violence case was dismissed.

The following February, Hickerson was arrested in Wyoming on Valentine’s Day following an alleged domestic dispute with Panettiere.

TMZ reported that the couple got into a fight in which he allegedly struck her “with a closed fist on the right side of her face.” Hickerson was later released on a $5,000 bond.

Panettiere’s face allegedly appeared red and swollen, and she also appeared to have a scrape and some swelling on her left hand, which she believed came from Hickerson’s watch.

In July 2020, the “Scream VI” actress was granted a restraining order against Hickerson, Page Six confirmed at the time.

She also took to Instagram to break her silence about her ongoing issues with her boyfriend.

“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life,” the actress added.

That month, Hickerson was arrested again in Los Angeles and hit with an eight-count criminal indictment with charges stemming from a series of abusive incidents between May 2019 and January 2020.

He was held on a $320,000 bond.

In April 2021, Hickerson accepted a plea deal, pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend. The remaining six counts were dismissed.

A judge sentenced Hickerson to 45 days in county jail, four years of formal probation, 52 mandatory domestic violence classes and a five-year restraining order.

The following month, Hickerson surrendered to the LA Men’s Central Jail to serve out his sentence. He had received credit for 12 days previously served.

In May 2022, the pair got into a wild brawl with people in LA outside the Sunset Marquis hotel, where they had been grabbing drinks.

An eyewitness told TMZ that the fight started inside the bar between the actress, Hickerson and other patrons. One of the people involved in the fight was overheard claiming that Hickerson had spat on him, and the manager ultimately threw everyone out.

Panettiere was allegedly overheard screaming, “Brian, jail,” seemingly to remind Hickerson that he is on probation after being arrested multiple times for acts of domestic violence against her.

Hickerson and Panettiere officially split for good in July 2022.

What did Hayden write about Brian in her memoir?

In her 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere got candid about the alleged domestic abuse she faced from Hickerson.

The “Remember the Titans” actress described several instances where Hickerson allegedly slammed her head into a wall and beat her face so badly that she could not leave the house for weeks.

In May 2026, Hickerson shared a horrifying story from their troubled relationship, admitting he was abusive towards her.

Hickerson said there was one particular incident he didn’t want in her book, but she included it anyway.

“There’s a story where I was drunk, right? Hayden was standing across the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, ‘Hayden, I’ll give you 10 seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you,’” he recalled.

“Who wants to read something about themselves, right?” he admitted about her memoir. “But you gotta be vulnerable and I did it. I did it, so.”

Hickerson said he missed Panettiere “every day” and that he thought about getting back together with her.

“I went into such a dark place, man, drugs, alcohol,” he recalled of their time together. “Good God, almighty, she’s five foot two on paper, four foot 11 in real life. I mean, come on.”

Has Brian reacted to Hayden’s death?

On Aug. 16, 2026, news surfaced that Panettiere had died. She was 36.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to Page Six.

“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.”

Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that police responded to an incident involving Panettiere on Sunday and that an investigation is currently open.

The outlet also reported that just one day prior, the actress flew from LA to South Carolina with Hickerson.

As of this publication, Hickerson has not publicly responded to his girlfriend’s tragic death.

TMZ reported, however, that his family “is aware.”

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).