Hayden Panettiere has publicly revealed for the first time that she is bisexual while promoting her upcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, set for release on May 19.
Speaking about the book, Panettiere said she now feels comfortable openly embracing her identity. “I’m comfortable to confidently say that, yes, I am bisexual. I said it!” she said.
The actress explained that the memoir explores her early experiences dating women and discovering her sexuality at a young age. According to Panettiere, she often felt more emotionally drawn to women than men, but the intense pressure to maintain a perfect image in Hollywood made her reluctant to speak publicly about it.
She also reflected on growing up under constant paparazzi attention, saying the lack of privacy made it difficult for her to fully explore relationships openly. Panettiere admitted she feared falling in love with a woman and then feeling pressured to hide the relationship from the public.
The actress said much of her personal life remained hidden behind closed doors as she tried to navigate fame and public scrutiny. Over the years, Panettiere’s relationships with former partners Brian Hickerson and Wladimir Klitschko were heavily covered in the media.