Hayden Panettiere's ex-partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shared an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, has shared a heart-wrenching tribute in her memory and detailed what he plans to tell their child about her mother in future.
Alongside a family selfie (with Kaya’s face obscured), Wladimir wrote in an Instagram caption that his family is struggling with “profound shock and grief” following the news of Hayden’s death at the age of 36.
“The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon,” he wrote. “Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”
Wladimir added, “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was... Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”
Alongside asking for privacy, the heavyweight champion concluded, “Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace #WeLoveYouHayden.”
Wladimir and Hayden got engaged in 2013 but never married. They welcomed Kaya in December 2014, and following their split, the ex-couple spoke highly of one another, despite their difficulties.
In her recent memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Hayden shared how devastated she was to have given Wladimir full custody of their child while she sought help for addiction issues.
“Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion, including sadness, resentment, and anger, I’ve felt because of it,” the star wrote.
“I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom. She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me.”
