Neutrogena responds after handling of Hayden Panettiere deal draws scrutiny

Cosmetics brand Neutrogena is under fire following renewed scrutiny over its past partnership with the late actor Hayden Panettiere. Backlash intensified after resurfaced comments suggested the brand terminated its long-term collaboration with Panettiere after she publicly shared her experiences with postpartum depression.

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I was just being honest. Never for a second did I think that anyone would have a bad reaction to it; it was my truth.

Panettiere, who served as a spokesperson for Neutrogena from 2005 to 2015, detailed in an interview earlier this year that the company, citing a "morals clause" in her contract, "fired" her for speaking candidly about her mental health struggles. She recounted that her representative at the time argued the termination was illegal, but ultimately, the decade-long relationship ended.

In response to the mounting criticism, Neutrogena posted a statement on Instagram on Thursday. The company acknowledged Panettiere as a "valued member of the Neutrogena community" for over a decade and stated it understands it "made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time." The brand also announced a significant investment in a long-standing community health partner to enhance access to support for women, including care for postpartum depression.

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When I got that call that Neutrogena wanted to fire me over that, my representative at the time said, ‘That’s illegal; you can’t do that,’ and even though she saved the day that year, I knew that was going to be it.

However, the company's statement has drawn further discontent from individuals who deem the apology insufficient. Many have expressed intentions to boycott Neutrogena and its affiliated sister companies. Panettiere, who passed away earlier this year, shared a daughter, Kaya, with her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. She had previously written about the profound pain of not being with her daughter daily due to navigating mental health issues, alcoholism, and addiction.

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Hayden’s courage in sharing her challenges helped inspire important conversations and awareness. We are making a significant investment to a long-standing community health partner to help give more women access to the support they need, including care for postpartum depression.