Wladimir Klitschko is mourning Hayden Panettiere, the mother of his 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, following the actress’s death at 36.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” Klitschko wrote this morning, sharing an old family photo. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon.”
Klitschko, 50, and Panettiere began dating in 2009 and later became engaged. They welcomed Kaya in December 2014 before ending their relationship for good in 2018.
Although their romance ended years ago, Klitschko said Panettiere remained an important part of his life.
“Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives,” he wrote.
The former heavyweight champion also promised to keep Panettiere’s memory alive for their daughter.
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” he wrote.
Panettiere previously spoke about how painful it was to give Klitschko full custody of Kaya while she sought treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse. Klitschko asked for privacy as the family grieves and said he would not discuss Panettiere’s death further for now.
“Rest easy, Hayden,” he concluded. “May you find eternal peace.”
