Brian Hickerson, former partner of actress Hayden Panettiere, has broken his silence following the release of her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." The book details a relationship marked by domestic abuse, a reality Hickerson acknowledges.
Hickerson admits to past harmful actions, stating, "terrible thing I did to her." He recounted an incident detailed in the memoir where he allegedly threatened to throw a phone at Panettiere, a story he had apparently hoped would be omitted.
Hickerson, who has faced multiple arrests and charges for domestic violence involving Panettiere, including a felony domestic violence charge leading to a restraining order, expressed that reading about these events was "brutal." He was sentenced to 45 days in jail in 2021 after a no-contest plea to felony counts of injuring Panettiere.
Acknowledging the Past
The former couple's tumultuous relationship, spanning several years, was marked by several alleged incidents of domestic violence. Hickerson stated he was not taught what abuse looked like growing up, suggesting this lack of understanding contributed to his actions. He also noted that Panettiere struggled to fully end their relationship for a significant period, describing the process of removing an abusive person from one's life as akin to pulling out an entangled weed.
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Memoir's Impact and Hickerson's Perspective
While Hickerson found revisiting the painful memories difficult, he also voiced a belief that stories like his, particularly those found within her memoir, could potentially serve to reform abusers. He acknowledged Panettiere's strength in recounting these experiences. The memoir, which covers professional and personal struggles including addiction and custody issues, details Panettiere's journey through a relationship she has described as "brutal, traumatic, and emotional."
Legal Entanglements and a Complex History
Hickerson's legal troubles with Panettiere include an arrest in July 2020 on suspicion of corporal injury to a spouse/cohabitant, followed by a second arrest on Valentine's Day for domestic battery and interference with a police officer. Though one domestic violence case was dismissed due to a lack of witnesses, the felony domestic violence charge resulted in his jail time and probation. Despite the history and legal actions, there were periods where the two were reportedly seen together even after his release from jail, suggesting a complex and persistent dynamic.
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