Why does he think they may be better apart?
Hickerson also sounded less certain when the discussion shifted from emotion to reality, which tends to complicate things.
“I think that Hayden is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my life, and I would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career,” he said. “So, we probably wouldn’t be good together.”
That comment puts Hickerson in two lanes at once: still attached, but also saying separation may be healthier for Panettiere’s career and stability. It is a difficult balance, and not one that becomes simpler because someone says it in an interview.
Are Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson back together?
Speculation picked up in March after Panettiere and Hickerson were photographed together at an airport. The sighting raised the usual question: had the former couple restarted their relationship?
Hickerson described their current connection differently. He said it is more of a friendship based on mutual respect, not a confirmed romantic reunion.
Still, he made clear the feelings remain. “I miss Hayden every day,” he said.
That gives the situation its current shape: public curiosity, private history and one side openly saying he still wants more.
What happened during their relationship?
Panettiere and Hickerson dated on and off from 2018 to 2022. Their relationship later became tied to legal proceedings after Hickerson pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence charges.
He received:
- Jail time
- Probation
- A five-year restraining order
In the interview, Hickerson acknowledged deep regret over how things unfolded. He said he went into “such a dark place” involving drugs and alcohol during their time together.
Those details matter because they are not background noise. They are central to why any talk of reconciliation lands with so much weight.
How does Panettiere’s memoir fit into this?
The interview comes ahead of Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which is expected to revisit major parts of her life and career. Hickerson also discussed how he feels about being included in the book.
The broader conversation reportedly touches on Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, who is also the father of her daughter.
For now, Hickerson’s public position is straightforward enough: he says he still loves and misses Panettiere, he still hopes for a future with her, and he also says stepping back may be the better choice. Messy, but at least not vague.
