The demand for skincare company Neutrogena to address an accusation made by Hayden Panettiere back in May has been intensifying over the past few months.
Following the actor’s recent demise, the pressure on Neutrogena heightened significantly.
Recently, Neutrogena broke its silence by releasing a statement on Instagram.
In their Instagram post, which does not allow comments, Neutrogena did not delve into the specifics of why they terminated their long-standing partnership with Panettiere or address the allegation suggesting it was due to her discussion about postpartum depression.
The brand stated, “We are proud to have collaborated with her and acknowledge that we failed to provide adequate support during her challenging times. This does not align with Neutrogena’s values or ethos.”
The Allegation
Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes, Bring it On: All or Nothing, and Nashville, served as Neutrogena’s global brand ambassador from 2005 to 2015.
In late 2014, she gave birth to a daughter, and in 2015, she appeared on Live with Kelly and Michael, where she openly discussed her battle with postpartum depression.
Shortly after that, her partnership with Neutrogena came to an end.
During a conversation with Jay Shetty on his podcast On Purpose in May, Panettiere alleged that Neutrogena attempted to terminate her contract due to her comments on postpartum depression in 2015, citing a morality clause.
“My representative at the time pointed out, ‘That’s unlawful, you cannot proceed with that,’ and even though … she resolved the issue that year, I knew that … I would not be re-invited [to represent Neutrogena] the following year.”
Fans and co-stars mourned the death of 36-year-old actor Hayden Panettiere, best known for roles in Heroes and Nashville. Police are investigating the cause of her death, but said there are no signs of foul play.
Panettiere mentioned that she never received any communication from the company following the 2015 incident.
“It made me realize and understand exactly what people thought of women who experience postpartum depression and how misunderstood it is, how much stigma there is around it,” she shared with Shetty.
The Backlash
Fans initiated a boycott against Neutrogena after the podcast episode was released. One beauty influencer even featured the podcast’s audio in a get-ready-with-me video with the caption “Neutrogena hates women!”
In the wake of Panettiere’s passing, fans have reignited their criticism towards Neutrogena.
Over the last three days, they have flooded Neutrogena’s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcG