Hayden Panettiere's Inner Circle Were 'Worried About Her' as She Reconnected With Brian Hickerson Amid Past Abuse Allegations, Source Says

Hayden Panettiere’s friends were reportedly “worried about her” after she reconnected with her ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, whose troubled history with the actress had raised serious concerns in the past.

“Hayden seemed to be doing well [recently], but there was still concern among her friends and inner circle,” a source who recently spoke with Panettiere told a news outlet. “Especially because she started spending time with Brian again.”

The insider said those close to Panettiere remembered the difficult period she experienced during their relationship.

“That relationship and association had led her down a dark path in the past, so her friends and inner circle were worried for her. There were concerns and her friends really hoped she was doing OK,” they spilled.

Before her August 16 death, the source claimed the Heroes star was dealing with personal struggles away from the spotlight.

The insider said Panettiere was “fighting a lot of demons behind the scenes.”

“But she still remained optimistic about her future and hopeful about what was ahead,” the insider explained.

According to the source, Panettiere also seemed to be moving in a healthier direction after releasing her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in May.

The book allowed the actress to open up about some of the hardest chapters of her life, and the insider said she felt a sense of relief afterward.

“She wanted to be a bright light and an advocate and always talked about wanting to help people,” the insider shared.

As OK! previously reported, Hickerson’s history with Panettiere has come back into focus following the actress’ sudden death in South Carolina.

Hickerson appeared to be traveling with the 36-year-old from Los Angeles, Calif., the day before she died after suffering a suspected overdose.

Panettiere and Hickerson first began dating in 2018, following her split from ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shares daughter Kaya.

Their romance eventually became the subject of serious headlines.

In 2020, Hickerson was arrested on multiple felony charges, including four counts of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, two assault charges and one charge of intimidating a witness, who was reportedly Panettiere.

He was detained in Wyoming after allegedly striking Panettiere "with a closed fist on the right side of her face." She was granted a restraining order against him the following July.

At the time, Panettiere publicly discussed the alleged abuse and explained why she wanted to tell her story.

"I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve," she told People. "I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I'm grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life."

Hickerson spent 45 days in jail in 2021 following an indictment on multiple abuse charges spanning May 2019 to January 2020. The following year, he and Panettiere were involved in a public, physical brawl outside a Los Angeles bar before allegedly ending their relationship for good.

Us Weekly talked to the source.