Neutrogena faces boycott calls after actress's death, fans cite postpartum depression claims

The death of actress Hayden Panettiere, at 36, has reignited controversy surrounding her past relationship with the Neutrogena brand. Fans are now demanding a boycott, alleging the company dropped her after she publicly discussed her struggles with postpartum depression.

Panettiere, who was the face of Neutrogena for about a decade, detailed in her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning" that her contract was terminated after she spoke about her mental health issues in 2015. She recounted that the brand ended their long-term collaboration following her appearance on "Live! with Kelly and Michael," where she discussed the postpartum depression she experienced after her daughter's birth in 2014.

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Neutrogena canceled my long-term contract and it was another blow in a year that had offered me almost nothing else.

"Neutrogena canceled my long-term contract and it was another blow in a year that had offered me almost nothing else," Panettiere wrote in her book. The issue gained new traction following her death on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina. An investigation into the circumstances of her death is ongoing.

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Neutrogena was a huge part of my life. I had moral clauses, they covered absolutely everything. And of all the things they could have fired me for, this was the last thing I thought they ever would.

Social media platforms have seen a surge of calls for a Neutrogena boycott. One post on X garnered over 34,000 likes, accusing the brand of abandoning the actress for speaking about her experience. Similar sentiments appeared on Reddit, where a post advocating for a boycott in Panettiere's memory received over 5,000 upvotes, with users vowing to stop purchasing Neutrogena products. The brand's official social media accounts have also been inundated with critical comments.

Neutrogena has yet to issue a public statement addressing the backlash or Panettiere's accusations. The actress had previously expressed surprise at the company's decision, telling podcaster Jay Shetty that she never believed they would terminate her contract for discussing her mental health. "Neutrogena was a huge part of my life. I had moral clauses, they covered absolutely everything. And of all the things they could have fired me for, this was the last thing I thought they ever would," she said. Panettiere maintained she was simply being honest and did not anticipate negative reactions.

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I was simply being honest. I didn't think for a second and I didn't care if anyone was going to react negatively. It was my truth.