Brian Hickerson 'Is the Most Charismatic Person' Who 'Draws You in,' Says Sister of Hayden Panettiere's Troubled Ex Amid Abuse Claims

Ashley Hickerson attributed Hayden Panettiere’s repeated returns to her brother, Brian Hickerson, to his extreme charisma and ability to draw people in. In an interview published by Daily Mail, Ashley stated that Brian is the type of person who can make anyone laugh.

Ashley’s explanation comes amid heightened scrutiny following the tragic death of the 36-year-old actress from an apparent overdose on August 16 in Greenville, S.C., where both Brian and his brother Zach were present.

The couple shared a highly tumultuous relationship beginning in 2018, which was marred by multiple domestic violence arrests for Brian.

Despite a past 45-day jail sentence and a four-year probation ruling against him, the pair had recently fueled reconciliation rumors before her passing.

“If I can say one thing about Brian, it’s that he is the most charismatic person and he draws you in,” Ashley said. “I get why Hayden was with him. Brian is just the type of person who can make you laugh no matter what, and he can be fun.”

Ashley also noted that her brother wasn’t always troubled.

“We all have our demons. Brian was not raised that way,” she said. “It wasn’t until he got into drugs that he went south.”

Hayden and Brian met through mutual friends in 2018 at a West Hollywood bar, shortly after the actress separated from her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.

According to Hayden's 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, the pair "hit it off" immediately after being introduced.

Brian had recently moved from South Carolina to Los Angeles to pursue acting and real estate.

They were first publicly spotted together in August 2018, holding hands outside a Los Angeles restaurant, and quickly entered a whirlwind romance that became increasingly serious and volatile over the following months.

In May 2019, Brian was booked for felony domestic violence following a physical confrontation at their Los Angeles home. A judge issued a protective order against him, though the case was later dismissed when Hayden declined to testify.

Police arrested Brian in Jackson, Wyoming, on Valentine’s Day 2020 after he punched Hayden in the face.

In 2021, Brian pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend. He was sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of formal probation, 52 domestic violence classes, and a five-year restraining order.

In August 2025, he was charged with a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He entered a judicial diversion program, completing 10 Narcotics Anonymous sessions to have the charge dismissed in January 2026.

In Hayden's 2026 memoir, she detailed graphic abuse. She noted that he would record her injuries while mockingly asking, "Why did you hit yourself?"

Brian corroborated her accounts in a May 2026 TMZ interview, admitting to throwing a cell phone at her while drunk and stating, "That's just what happens when you lay hands on women.”

During the August 2026 hearing, prosecutors argued against the expungement by calling out his sobriety claims. They pointed to his May TMZ interview, asserting he appeared "quite high on what appears to be a stimulant" and "clearly not sober."

Brian hasn't been charged with involvement in Hayden's death. Law enforcement authorities from the Greenville Police Department stated that an initial investigation showed no signs of foul play or suspicious activity, and an autopsy revealed no signs of trauma contributing to her passing.

The late actress' estranged mother Lesley Vogel told NBC News that Brian was someone the family had been "trying to get rid of for quite some time." She expressed profound distress that he was present at the South Carolina apartment when Hayden was found unresponsive.