Brian Hickerson’s Sister Says His Charm Drew Hayden Panettiere Back Despite Troubled Past and Abuse Claims

Brian Hickerson’s sister, Ashley Hickerson, is offering a glimpse into the complicated relationship between her brother and Hayden Panettiere.

The Nashville star died at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, in what has been described as an apparent overdose. Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were both there when emergency responders arrived.

Hayden and Brian first met in 2018 and quickly fell into a relationship that became increasingly complicated. They split and reunited several times, while Brian faced multiple arrests over alleged domestic violence involving the actress.

But according to Ashley, there was another side to her brother that made him difficult to walk away from.

“If I can say one thing about Brian, it’s that he is the most charismatic person and he draws you in,” she told Daily Mail.

“I get why Hayden was with him,” she continued, adding, “Brian is just the type of person who can make you laugh no matter what, and he can be fun.”

Ashley acknowledged that her brother had serious issues but pushed back on the idea that his behavior was simply a product of his upbringing.

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

She also insisted that Brian knew he had problems and had tried to address them.

“He did seek treatment and he was getting help,” Ashley said, adding, “He did own up to his s---.”

Her comments come as Hayden’s family has raised their own questions about Brian’s presence in the Scream actress’ final days.

Hayden’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has been particularly critical of her daughter’s former partner. Lesley previously described a “toxic individual” as someone she believed had contributed to the Heroes alum's struggles before identifying Brian by name.

“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” the 70-year-old said earlier this week in a statement to NBC News.

The grieving mother has also claimed that Brian pawned some of Hayden’s belongings before her death, including a vintage guitar, and said her daughter was shocked to discover that some of her personal possessions were being kept in his storage unit.

Brian’s attorney, Sloan Ellis, has pushed back against speculation surrounding the former child star’s death, saying the investigation should be allowed to continue.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time," he said in a statement obtained by People.