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Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Brian Hickerson Allegedly Sent Threatening Texts After 2020 Arrest

Prosecutors say Hickerson sent texts threatening to release damaging material and pressure Panettiere after his 2020 arrest.

  • Court documents recently obtained by TMZ show Brian Hickerson allegedly sent Hayden Panettiere threatening texts after his 2020 arrest, gaining fresh attention following Panettiere's death at 36 on August 16.
  • Prosecutors alleged Hickerson sent messages amounting to witness intimidation after his February 2020 arrest in Wyoming, claiming he pressured Panettiere to drop the case with threats like, "Time to go to war I guess."
  • Law enforcement officials stated the texts featured threatening language, with one message reading, "It is very simple... you gotta make one phone call." Hickerson later pleaded no contest to two felony counts.
  • On Thursday, August 13, a court denied Hickerson's request to reduce two past felony charges. Days after Panettiere died, South Carolina police were spotted outside Hickerson's family home on August 19 for an undisclosed reason.
  • Police investigation found no signs of foul play regarding Panettiere's death, and Hickerson has not publicly addressed the resurfaced messages. For domestic violence support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
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Brian Hickerson allegedly sent threatening messages to actress Hayden Panettiere after his 2020 arrest for domestic violence. According to court documents, Hickerson sent the actress a series of messages during the criminal trial that followed an incident in Wyoming, where he allegedly physically assaulted her. In some of the messages, he mentioned “war” and threatened to release compromising material. The incident that led to the lawsuit occurr…

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Page Six broke the news in New York, United States on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
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