Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson's Relationship Timeline: Inside Their Tumultuous Romance

Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson's relationship endured years of ups and downs.

Following her split from Wladimir Klitschko, the Heroes actress moved on with Hickerson, whom she dated on and off for roughly four years. Their tumultuous relationship came under renewed scrutiny after Panettiere's death, particularly Hickerson's past legal troubles stemming from incidents that occurred while they were together.

Panettiere and Hickerson first fueled dating rumors when they were spotted holding hands in West Hollywood in August 2018.

At the time, a source told Us Weekly the duo had been together "for a couple of months" before they stepped out in public for the first time.

"They both party together and are having fun," the insider continued.

The following month, a separate insider claimed Panettiere and Hickerson were "getting serious."

According to a police report, South Carolina officers were called to a domestic assault "in progress" involving Hickerson and his father. When an officer arrived, Hickerson reportedly appeared visibly upset and was seen following his dad through the kitchen.

The aspiring actor denied attacking his father, while his dad insisted the injuries were caused by a fall.

Despite concerns surrounding their relationship, Panettiere said she "hopes and thinks" she would marry Hickerson someday.

"I've lived a big life. I've met a lot of people. I learn something new from [Hickerson] every day, and that's something that not many people can provide me with," she told a news outlet in February 2019.

Hickerson's legal troubles continued in 2019.

In May of that year, he was arrested in Los Angeles following an alleged incident with Panettiere that left "redness and marks" on her body. Prosecutors charged him with felony domestic violence, though it was dismissed in September 2019.

Hickerson was arrested again on Valentine's Day 2020 after an alleged domestic dispute with Panettiere while they were in Jackson, Wyo. He was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery and interfering with a police officer after allegedly punching Panettiere in the face.

He was released on a $5,000 bond at the time.

Panettiere obtained an out-of-state protective order against Hickerson following the domestic violence incident and a breakup. He was then charged with eight counts related to several alleged incidents, including four felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant, two felony assault charges, one felony count of intimidating a witness and a misdemeanor battery charge.

He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant and was later sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of probation, 52 mandatory domestic violence classes, $500 in restitution and a five-year protective order.

In March 2022, TMZ released footage of Panettiere and Hickerson getting into a brawl with other individuals outside the Sunset Marquis.

A representative for the Nashville actress released a statement after the incident, saying Panettiere was "okay."

"While in the restaurant of the Sunset Marquis Brian Hickerson, who happened to be with Hayden, made a comment to an individual about leaving the waitress a poor tip," the spokesperson said. "That same individual along with the group he was with began badgering and shoving Brian at which point security pushed everyone outside."

The representative added, "Brian was attacked by the group as was Hayden who in her best effort tried to diffuse the situation. Hayden was refused the opportunity to provide a statement to the police as she was escorted back inside. She is okay."

Following a series of domestic violence incidents, Panettiere and Hickerson broke up for good in July 2022.

When asked by a paparazzo if they were still together, Hickerson said, "No, absolutely not."

In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere wrote about her relationship with Hickerson and the alleged abuse she endured.

Hickerson publicly responded to the abuse allegations in a May interview with TMZ, saying, "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.' … Who wants to read something about themselves, right? But you gotta be vulnerable and I did it. I did it, so."

Hickerson said he still missed Panettiere "every day" and had thought about reconciling with her. Looking back on their relationship, he admitted he had fallen into a "dark place" involving drugs and alcohol.

"Good God, almighty, she's 5-foot-2 on paper, 4-foot-11 in real life. I mean, come on," he continued.

As reported by TMZ, Panettiere and Hickerson flew from Los Angeles to the "south" on August 15, just one day before news of her death broke.

His brother, Zach Hickerson, reportedly found Hayden in a chair in the living room of a property in Greenville, S.C., where she was pronounced dead on August 16. Brian was reportedly asleep in a separate bedroom at the time.

Authorities said there were no signs of trauma or foul play, while Hayden's cause and manner of death remained under investigation.