Neutrogena is responding to backlash over Hayden Panettiere’s claim that the beauty brand dropped her after she spoke publicly about postpartum depression.
Days after Panettiere’s death at 36, fans resurfaced a May interview in which she said her decade-long relationship with Neutrogena ended after she talked openly about her postpartum struggles, and now her fans are calling for a boycott.
Hayden Panettiere in May of this year talking about Neutrogena ending her endorsement deal after she talked about her struggles with postpartum depression in 2015 pic.twitter.com/WOPWHX79RT
— Lunar Surfer (@TheLunarSurfer) August 17, 2026
On Thursday, Neutrogena acknowledged Panettiere’s experience via an Instagram statement.
“We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time,” the company wrote. “This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be.”
Panettiere, who worked with the brand from 2005 to 2015, previously told Jay Shetty that she never expected honesty about postpartum depression to jeopardize the partnership.
“This is the last thing that I thought they would ever fire me over,” she shared.
Panettiere said she had spent 10 years working with the company and believed the decision followed a “morals clause” issue.
Neutrogena did not address the specific terms of her contract but said Panettiere’s willingness to discuss her struggles helped bring attention to important conversations.
The company also announced plans for “a significant investment” in a longtime community health partner to expand support for women, including care for postpartum depression.
