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Hayden Panettiere Shares Sobriety Journey: ‘I Feel Like I Have a Second Chance’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Hayden Panettiere is opening up about her battle with substance abuse for the first time and how she got sober.
A child actor, Panettiere said she was just 15 years old when she was first offered drugs by someone on her team.
“They were to make me peppy during interviews,” Panettiere shared. “I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction.”
She continued, “My saving grace is that I couldn’t be messy while on set and working. But things kept getting out of control [off set]. And as I got older, the drugs and alcohol became something I almost couldn’t live without.”
Her struggles with drugs and alcohol impacted her relationship with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko and their daughter, Kaya.
“He didn’t want to be around me,” the actress explained. “I didn’t want to be around me. But with the opiates and alcohol I was doing anything to make me feel happy for a moment. Then I’d feel worse than I did before. I was in a cycle of self-destruction.”
In 2018, Panettiere had lost so much self-control that she sent her daughter to live in Ukraine with Klitschko.
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” she recalled. “But I wanted to be a good mom to her — and sometimes that means letting them go.”
Panettierre was hospitalized for jaundice, and doctors told her her liver would give out if she didn’t get sober. Faced with the loss of her daughter and potential death, Panettiere entered rehab and sobered up.
Though she didn’t specify how long she’s been sober, the actress did share how she maintains her sobriety.
“It’s an everyday choice, and I’m checking in with myself all the time,” Panettiere shared. “But I’m just so grateful to be part of this world again, and I will never take it for granted again.”
She continued, “This hasn’t been easy and there were a lot of ups and downs. But I don’t regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance.”
Movieguide® has previously reported on many other celebrities who have overcome addiction issues, including actor Dave Coulier:
Actor and comedian Dave Coulier, known for classic sitcom FULL HOUSE and its reboot FULLER HOUSE, recently celebrated more than two years of sobriety.
In a post on Instagram, Coulier shared a picture of his face, cut and bruised after falling due to drunkenness.
“I was a drunk. Yes. An alcoholic. I’ve been alcohol free since January 1, 2020,” he shared. “When I drank, I was the life of the party. I could make people laugh until they fell down. In this picture I was the one who fell down. Not because I was playing hockey or doing the things I love – like chopping wood or doing construction, golfing, fishing or flying airplanes. I was hammered and fell, going up some stairs made of stone.
“No one loved having ‘beers with the boys’ after playing hockey or a round of golf more than me. I was always the ‘final final’ guy in the room. The 8 hours of drinking, laughter and funny stupidity was followed by two days of feeling like a bowl of dog mess,” he continued. “I loved booze, but it didn’t love me back.”
Coulier credited the support of his wife, Melissa, and other friends for his journey to sobriety.
“I decided to make a decision for my own well-being, my family and for those around me who I love so dearly,” he said. “The mental and physical withdrawal were big challenges for me, but I was supported by @melissacoulier and friends who had already made the journey. The psychological and physical transformation has been amazing. The sky is more blue, my heart is no longer closed, and I enjoy making people laugh until they fall down more than ever before. Thank you, Melissa, for being by my side. I love you.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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