Actress Hayden Panettiere has hinted at a possible reconciliation with her ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, despite spending time in jail in 2021 for domestic violence against her.
While Panettiere gave an interview with the New York Times, where the actress promoted her latest film, Scream VI, Hickerson was also present at the condo where the interview was held, with the actress repeatedly calling her ex-boyfriend “babe”, despite Hickerson announcing their split just three months ago and stating that there was no chance of them getting back together.
The 33-year-old actress admitted that there are “still feelings there”, adding, “I did not do any of this lightly.
“He knows he deserved what happened to him.”
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The Nashville star revealed that they had reconnected as they both attempted to get sober, with the actress previously revealing her addiction to alcohol and opioids.
But she did add that their re-emerging relationship is “contingent on him continuing on this road of recovery.”
The couple have been linked since 2018, but just one year later Hickerson was charged with felony domestic violence after he and Panettiere began arguing after a night of drinking, after which he was ordered to stay 100 yards (91.44 metres) away from the actress and cut off all communication.
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Then in 2020 Hickerson was again arrested, this time for allegedly punching Panettiere in the face. He pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a partner, spending 45 days in jail with four years of probation for the offense.
The couple were also involved in a bar brawl in March 2022, with an eyewitness reporting to TMZ that while Hickerson fought with another patron, the actress screamed, “Brian, jail” to remind him of the consequences of his probation.
The actress previously spoke about her dating Hickerson while dealing with an addiction, telling People, “It was a very dark and complicated time in my life. But a lot of women go through what I went through, and I want people to know it’s OK to ask for help.”
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She also added that she had forgiven Hickerson, saying, “Making amends is a really important thing that you learn in treatment.”
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