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Got it Edition CA NY Open US News navigation US News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Search Search US News Haunting Hayden Panettiere interview about being betrayed and sex trafficked at age 18 resurfaces after her death By Anthony Blair Published Aug. 17, 2026, 3:48 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google A haunting interview in which Hayden Panettiere talked about being betrayed by a friend and sex trafficked to a “very famous man” on a yacht at age 18 has resurfaced after her death on Sunday. The troubled actress, who died of suspected cardiac arrest and overdose at age 36, described being “basically told to perform sexual acts” when she was still an up-and-coming child star. Panettiere said the unidentified female friend was somebody she “had grown to trust and see as a protector” before she led her onto the boat when she was 18. “There was no hints of anything like that happening, so it took me by surprise,” she said. Panettiere made the comments on the May 11 episode of Jay Shetty’s podcast, “On Purpose with Jay Shetty.” 3 Hayden Panettiere discusses her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” during an interview with Jay Shetty on YouTube on May 11, 2026. YouTube/Jay Shetty Podcast Explore More Hayden Panettiere suffered ‘cardiac arrest’ after feared ‘overdose,’ according to chilling 911 dispatch audio Hayden Panettiere, star of ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dead at 36 Prominent Dem donor fundraising for NY GOP governor candidate Bruce Blakeman: ‘Talk of the Hamptons’ The “Heroes” actor said she was escorted below deck into a “very small room” and placed in bed next to an “undressed man,” as she recounted the incident, which also featured in her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” published May 19. The unidentified man behaved “like this was just an average day for him,” Panettiere added, describing how she fled the room. “I was like, ‘This is not happening,'” she said, adding that she tried to hide elsewhere on the boat. 3 Panettiere at around the time the alleged incident took place. Getty Images “There was no jumping off and swimming away. And there was nobody who was going to be empathetic to my situation. I realized that this was nothing new to them,” Panettiere said. More coverage on the death of Hayden Panettiere: 911 call shows Hayden Panettiere’s friend found her ‘unresponsive’ from apparent cardiac arrest: police Hayden Panettiere, star of ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dead at 36 Hayden Panettiere voiced hope in heartbreaking last interview: ‘I have a lot more life left to live’ Hayden Panettiere appeared happy and carefree in final Instagram post weeks before sudden death She also reflected on the emotional impact of being betrayed by a close friend. 3 Hayden Panettiere said she was betrayed by a woman she saw as a trusted mentor. WireImage “When you really find somebody that you trust, you hold on to them for dear life, and you feel so lucky. So to be betrayed like that is just an awful feeling,” she said. Panettiere was found dead by a friend at an AirBnb apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, after emergency responders were called to an “unidentified female” having a “cardiac arrest” and suspected “overdose,” according to 911 dispatcher audio . The actress had previously spoken openly about her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, recalling being introduced to “happy pills” when she was just 15 to make her “peppy” during red carpet events during a previous interview with People . Filed under hayden panettiere 8/17/26 Read Next Israeli PM puts Mamdani on billboard with Ayatollah Khamen... Trending Now in US News This story has been shared 45,186 times. 45,186 Hayden Panettiere suffered ‘cardiac arrest’ after feared ‘overdose,’ according to chilling 911 dispatch audio This story has been shared 31,132 times. 31,132 Hayden Panettiere, star of ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dead at 36 This story has been shared 19,426 times. 19,426 Prominent Dem donor fundraising for NY GOP governor candidate Bruce Blakeman: ‘Talk of the Hamptons’ This story has been shared 18,011 times. 18,011 UC-Berkeley math prof says she has to teach fractions to calculus students because standards have fallen so far Listen Now Now on Page Six Kroy Biermann makes out with ex-wife of Kim Zolciak’s boyfriend after denying romance Jessi Draper shares her beauty secrets, from a ‘quick and easy’ hair hack to the ‘best’ blush-bronzer duo Hayden Panettiere’s musician pal reveals star’s final text before shocking death See All Video What Is the Greatest Knicks Jersey of All Time? | NY Got Game – Knicks History Files Now on Decider 8 Movies Like ‘The Last House’ on Netflix and Beyond: ‘A Quiet Place,’ ‘Bird Box,’ and More ‘The Shards’ Episode 3 Recap: Rollergirl ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4, Episode 2: 5 Things You May Have Missed, From Paddington Bear To ‘The Graduate’ References And More ‘Dutton Ranch’ Season 2 Showrunner Change: Kelly Reilly And Cole Hauser Address Chad Feehan’s Departure See All Covers Today's Cover Front Cover Back Cover Flip for back cover Browse Covers Hayden Panettiere discusses her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," during an interview with Jay Shetty on YouTube on May 11, 2026. YouTube/Jay Shetty Podcast Panettiere at around the time the alleged incident took place. Getty Images Hayden Panettiere said she was betrayed by a woman she saw as a trusted mentor. WireImage You are viewing 1 of 3 images Previous Image Next Image More Stories Page Six Hayden Panettiere’s neighbor recalls ‘shocking’ moments after actress found dead in luxury apartment complex Decider Stream It or Skip It: ‘Lanterns’ on HBO, Where Comic Book Heroes Hal Jordan and John Stewart Play ‘True Detective’ NYPost Hayden Panettiere suffered ‘cardiac arrest’ after feared ‘overdose,’ according to chilling 911 dispatch audio Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Email YouTube TikTok Snapchat Sections & Features US News Metro World News Sports Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment Fashion & Beauty Shopping Lifestyle Real Estate Media Tech Science Health Travel Astrology Video Photos Alexa Covers Horoscopes Sports Odds Podcasts Crosswords & Games Columnists Classifieds Post Sports+ Subscribe Articles Manage Newsletters & Store Email Newsletters NY Post Official Store Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription Delivery Help Help/Support About New York Post Editorial Standards New York Post Awards & Recognition Customer Service Apps Help Community Guidelines Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program Apps iPhone App iPad App Android Phone Android Tablet Advertise Media Kit Contact © 2026 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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