Hayden Panettiere spoke about losing custody of her daughter
13 may 2026 в 22:13
Hayden Panettiere had to give up custody of her daughter Kaya in favor of her ex-partner, Vladimir Klitschko, while she struggled with postpartum depression and addiction issues. This decision was not easy for her, and the actress, known for her role in the series «Heroes», - candidly discussed it in a recent interview with Jay Shetty on his podcast «On Purpose».
«The thought that someone might think I just gave my child away and didn’t care breaks my heart», - Hayden said in May 2026. «That's absolutely not the case. It was a terrible cycle; for many years I battled depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse, trying to find my way back».
So where is Kaya now if she doesn’t live with her mother? Here’s what we know.
Hayden transferred full custody of her daughter to her ex-husband Vladimir in 2018 to focus on her recovery from addiction and postpartum depression.
«I was the one who sought help, who said, 'I urgently need help. I know this will look terrible, but I can’t live like this anymore,'» Hayden explained in the 2026 interview.
Kaya lives in Europe with her father. After Hayden and Vladimir’s split in 2018, the former boxer took her to his home country, Ukraine, where they created an «incredible» life for her, Hayden noted in her 2026 interview.
«So when I finally became healthy, it would have felt unfair and selfish to try to pull her out of the life she had created», - Hayden explained about Kaya’s life in Ukraine.
The custody agreement depends on both Hayden and Vladimir, but at the moment, Hayden does not have full custody of Kaya, which, according to her, is due to the «incredible» life Vladimir and Kaya have built in Europe. Nevertheless, Hayden noted that she maintains a strong connection with her daughter despite the physical distance.
«We have an incredible relationship», - Hayden said, noting that they often communicate via FaceTime. «We really have an intense, incredible bond, and I am very grateful for that».
If you or someone you know is facing substance abuse issues, please reach out to the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline at 1−800−662-HELP (4357)
«The thought that someone might think I just gave my child away and didn’t care breaks my heart», - Hayden said in May 2026. «That's absolutely not the case. It was a terrible cycle; for many years I battled depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse, trying to find my way back».
So where is Kaya now if she doesn’t live with her mother? Here’s what we know.
Hayden transferred full custody of her daughter to her ex-husband Vladimir in 2018 to focus on her recovery from addiction and postpartum depression.
«I was the one who sought help, who said, 'I urgently need help. I know this will look terrible, but I can’t live like this anymore,'» Hayden explained in the 2026 interview.
Kaya lives in Europe with her father. After Hayden and Vladimir’s split in 2018, the former boxer took her to his home country, Ukraine, where they created an «incredible» life for her, Hayden noted in her 2026 interview.
«So when I finally became healthy, it would have felt unfair and selfish to try to pull her out of the life she had created», - Hayden explained about Kaya’s life in Ukraine.
The custody agreement depends on both Hayden and Vladimir, but at the moment, Hayden does not have full custody of Kaya, which, according to her, is due to the «incredible» life Vladimir and Kaya have built in Europe. Nevertheless, Hayden noted that she maintains a strong connection with her daughter despite the physical distance.
«We have an incredible relationship», - Hayden said, noting that they often communicate via FaceTime. «We really have an intense, incredible bond, and I am very grateful for that».
If you or someone you know is facing substance abuse issues, please reach out to the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline at 1−800−662-HELP (4357)
© Smirnova Olga
