Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Brian Hickerson Details His Past Abuse, Reveals Story He Wanted Out of Memoir

Hayden Panettiere’s ex Brian Hickerson is addressing allegations of abuse in their previous relationship ahead of the highly-anticipated release of her upcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

“Man, I mean, I think it speaks for itself … I got arrested for abusing her,” Hickerson said in an interview with TMZ on Tuesday, May 12. “ And I wouldn’t blame her friends for being pissed off at me.”

Panettiere and Hickerson were first linked in 2018. The following year, Hickerson was arrested for an alleged domestic violence incident against Panettiere. He was subsequently charged with felony domestic violence and ordered to stay away from the actress. After those charges were dropped, Hickerson was later arrested in 2020 following another domestic violence altercation against Panettiere. He served 33 days in prison, was placed on four years probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine.

“I had a lot to drink and I got physical with her. I got arrested,” Hickerson told the outlet of his 2020 arrest. Spent the night in jail and um, you know, that’s just what happens when you lay hands on women.”

Hickerson added that he has “had a couple opportunities to apologize” to Panettiere for the abuse. He shared that he has been working on himself by going to AA meetings and therapy.

“Our relationship now is … I think it’s just a mutual respect thing. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart and, you know, I hope the same for her,” he said of his relationship with Panettiere now. “We’re just good buddies.”

Hickerson also gushed that Panettiere’s book is an “incredible” read.

“I think everyone should read it,” he said. “The domestic violence stuff, I think it’s like page 272. Everybody should read it.”

Hickerson shared that it was difficult to relieve some of those dark moments.

“Who wants to read something about themselves like that, right?” he said. “But you gotta be vulnerable and I did it.”

While Panettiere was writing her story, Hickerson did ask her to leave out one incident that occurred between them.

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

As Hickerson has come to terms with his past actions, he thinks it’s “important” for other abusers to read about domestic violence survivors’ stories.

“My biggest thing about domestic violence is I don’t think it is taught early enough in life,” he said. “Never in my life did I get taught what domestic violence was. Maybe if I did at an early age, maybe I wouldn’t have done what I did.”

This Is Me: A Reckoning will be released on Tuesday, May 19.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.