Neutrogena has issued a public apology for making actress Foxbusiness feel unsupported during a very difficult time,
the company stated in an Instagram post on Thursday, August 20. The admission follows a surge of public backlash and calls for a boycott after the actress died at age 36.
Neutrogena Acknowledges Failing Hayden Panettiere Following Postpartum Depression Backlash
Panettiere, known for her roles in “Nashville,” “Heroes,” and Remember the Titans,
was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest on Sunday, August 16, at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Preliminary autopsy results indicated no signs of trauma contributed to her death, and police reported no signs of foul play, according to reports from Fox Business and CBC. The Drug Enforcement Administration is assisting in the investigation into her death.
Controversy Over 2015 Contract Termination
The backlash against the skincare brand stems from claims Panettiere made regarding the end of her decade-long partnership with Neutrogena, which spanned from 2005 to 2015. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning,
and during a May appearance on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast, Panettiere alleged that Neutrogena cut ties with her after she spoke publicly about her experience with postpartum depression (PPD).
Panettiere described a 2015 interview on Live with Kelly and Michael
where she spoke about PPD as something she could very much relate to
and that many women experience. She told Shetty she had no plan to discuss the topic but was simply being honest when it came up. Panettiere alleged that the company attempted to fire her by invoking a morality clause in her contract. While her representative at the time argued the move was illegal, Panettiere stated she knew she would not be invited back the following year.
Panettiere told Shetty that the experience made her realize the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding women who experience postpartum depression. She noted that she had worked with the company for 10 years and remembered not hearing a word from anybody
after the incident, which she said really breaking my heart.
Corporate Response and Community Investment
Neutrogena initially refrained from commenting on Panettiere’s death out of respect for her family, but eventually addressed the situation as fans flooded its social media accounts with negative comments. In its statement, the brand described Panettiere as a “valued member” of its community and stated, This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be
.
To address the issue, Neutrogena announced it is making a significant investment
to a long-standing community health partner to increase women’s access to support, specifically including care for postpartum depression. The company stated it would share further details once plans are in place.
The controversy has had financial implications for the brand’s parent company, Kenvue Inc., which saw stock prices drop by more than 2 percent following Panettiere’s death, according to a New York Post report.
Context of Postpartum Struggles
Panettiere’s personal struggles began in December 2014, when she nearly hemorrhaged to death after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya. She later described struggling with a total blackout of emotion
and feeling as though her soul was dead. Panettiere entered a treatment facility for PPD in October 2015 and previously disclosed to People magazine in 2022 that she had struggled with an addiction to alcohol and opioids starting in her teens.
The actress’s experience mirrors broader trends in maternal health. According to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, mothers reported a nearly 65% increase in fair to poor mental health
between 2016 and 2023. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that mental health disorders contribute to nearly 1 in 4 pregnancy-related deaths, making them a leading cause of maternal death.
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