Hayden Panettiere Poses in Bathtub for PETA Just Weeks Before Her Passing
Hayden Panettiere took part in what would be her last PETA campaign just weeks before her tragic passing at the age of 36.
On Tuesday, August 18, PETA released a new promotional video that Panettiere filmed in the final weeks of her life, aimed at raising awareness about the captivity of whales, dolphins, and other marine animals in theme parks worldwide.
“Can you imagine the frustration, trauma, and depression [these animals] experience? Everything essential for their well-being is stripped away,” Panettiere expressed in remarks about the animals, as reported by Us. “We can put an end to this. You and I. In their ocean environments, they can be with their families, dive deep to flee the scorching sun, and feel the rain on their skin… all of this is taken away when they are confined to small tanks.”
In the ad, Panettiere highlights the distressing conditions animals endure in cramped enclosures at various parks across the globe, performing tricks for excited visitors without any sanctuary.
The impactful PETA video concludes with the former Heroes star urging viewers to commit to avoiding marine theme parks.
“Promise today to never visit a marine park that keeps dolphins in harsh captivity. Together, we can end this cruelty,” she implores.
Upon the video’s release, PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange honored Panettiere’s lifelong dedication to animal rights activism. (Panettiere famously appeared in the critically acclaimed 2009 documentary The Cove, where she was depicted paddling into the waters off Japan to confront dolphin hunters.)
“Hayden Panettiere became a household name portraying heroes on television, but to animals, she was the true hero,” Lange stated on Tuesday. “She courageously paddled into the blood-stained waters of Taiji, Japan, to confront dolphin hunters during their annual slaughter, a moment captured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, and never ceased to denounce marine parks like SeaWorld, calling their confinement of intelligent, wide-ranging marine mammals in concrete tanks ‘disgusting.’ The world has lost a compassionate soul, and the animals have lost a fierce advocate. Everyone at PETA cherishes her memory.”
The actress also served as a spokesperson for the Hawaii-based marine organization Whaleman Foundation, which advocates for the welfare of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in their natural habitats.
PETA joined numerous Hollywood figures in honoring Panettiere’s life and legacy following her passing on Sunday, August 16. The Greenville Police Department confirmed that Panettiere was found “unresponsive” at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. The Nashville actress was later pronounced dead, with a suspected overdose being the cause.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the tragic loss of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, conveyed to Us in a statement at the time. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature, bringing immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who admired her onscreen.”
An autopsy, concluded on Monday, August 17, reported that “no signs of trauma were found that would have contributed” to Panettiere’s death. The official cause is “pending further investigation and additional studies,” as stated by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
Us reported that Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the Greenville apartment when emergency services arrived on Sunday. An incident report obtained by Us indicated that Brian, 37, provided a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was “currently taking.”
Local authorities are still looking into the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
