Fans of Hayden Panettiere, the actress who died earlier this week at age 36, are staging a boycott against the skincare brand Neutrogena, aiming to hold the company accountable for what they say was a callous response to her mental health struggles. The actress, best known for roles in “Nashville,” “Heroes,” and “Remember the Titans,” was found unresponsive Sunday afternoon at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where she had been staying temporarily. An investigation into her death is ongoing.
Panettiere had been the face of Neutrogena for a decade, from 2005 until 2015. In her 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” she alleged that the partnership ended because of comments she made about suffering from postpartum depression. She recounted appearing on “Live! with Kelly and Michael” and discussing her mental health challenges following the birth of her daughter in December 2014. In the memoir, she wrote: “Neutrogena canceled my long-standing contract, and it was yet another blow in a year that had given almost nothing else.”
Now, in the wake of her death, social media users on Reddit, TikTok, and other platforms are organizing a boycott of the brand. They are also flooding Neutrogena’s social media accounts with critical comments and suggestions for alternative products. One response to a Neutrogena post reading “Friends don’t let friends go to bed without removing their makeup” was: “Friends don’t drop friends when they’re suffering, but hey.” Another commenter wrote: “What Neutrogena did to Hayden Panettiere is absolutely heartbreaking. A woman openly speaking about postpartum depression..something SO many women experience..should have been met with compassion, support, and a brand using its platform to help break the stigma.”
The company has not responded to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.
The backlash comes as postpartum depression has become a trending topic of conversation, fueled in part by the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who is being prosecuted in Massachusetts for the alleged murder of her three children. Clancy admitted to killing her children, but her defense argues that she suffered from severe postpartum psychosis. The case has sparked debates about the reality of postpartum mental health conditions and the extent to which they can affect a woman’s actions.
Panettiere’s death has intensified scrutiny of how public figures and corporations treat discussions of mental health. Her memoir’s allegations highlight a pattern she felt was all too common: a brand choosing to sever ties rather than offer support. Fans are now using their purchasing power to send a message, hoping to pressure Neutrogena into acknowledging its past actions and to encourage other companies to handle such situations with more empathy.
The boycott represents a growing trend of consumer activism, where individuals leverage social media to hold brands accountable for perceived ethical lapses. Whether the campaign will have a lasting impact on Neutrogena’s sales remains to be seen, but the intensity of the response reflects the deep resonance of Panettiere’s story.
As the investigation into Panettiere’s death continues, her fans are determined to ensure that her legacy includes a broader conversation about mental health support, both in Hollywood and beyond.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/hayden-panettiere-fans-punish-major-brand-over-postpartum-depression-controversy