Hayden Panettiere’s final movie director says team discussed intervention as star ‘fought to stay sober’

HAYDEN Panettiere’s team discussed staging an intervention as the actress allegedly “fought to stay sober”, one of her final movie directors has claimed. Griff Furst said concerns grew so serious that he agreed to take part in an attempt to help the Heroes star before her tragic death aged 36. Hayden Panettiere’s director claims an intervention was planned for her addiction struggles Credit: AP The actress, 36, was found unresponsive and died, with an overdose reportedly referenced in a 911 call Credit: Handout Furst, who directed Hayden in the 2025 horror comedy A Breed Apart, made the claims in a series of videos posted to Instagram on Wednesday. He said he had been rooting for her to “beat the addiction that she spoke about openly and publicly herself.” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! The director claimed Hayden was “fighting to stay sober” during production and that those working on the movie tried to support her amid concerns over her wellbeing, FOX 8 reported. Furst said: “A producer or director, no matter how certain you are that an actor or crew member is in a bad situation, you don’t have the proof, or the benefit of the time to verify it. Read more on Hayden Panettiere “You can adjust the schedule, you can collect internal reporting and you can assign a handler to make sure that that individual is being taken care of as best as they can.” The director said he remained in contact with Hayden’s team after filming wrapped and was later approached about sitting down with the actress for an intervention. Furst agreed to take part but said, as far as he knows, it never happened. His claims have emerged just days after Hayden was found unresponsive at a rental property in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. Most read in Entertainment First responders desperately tried to revive the Nashville star, but she was pronounced dead aged 36. Authorities have not yet determined her official cause or manner of death, while cops have said there appeared to be no signs of foul play. Audio from a 911 dispatch call reportedly referenced an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest.” The Drug Enforcement Administration has also joined the investigation into the actress’ death. Panettiere was found unresponsive at the South Carolina home where she had been temporarily staying on Sunday Credit: FOX Carolina Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson has since broken his silence on the actress’ sudden passing Credit: Rex Hayden’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who was reportedly sleeping in another room when his brother Zach found Hayden, has since broken his silence through his attorney. His lawyer Sloan Ellis told The U.S. Sun on Thursday: “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.” The latest claims come after a report alleged Hayden may still have been battling her long-running addiction problems just three months before her death. While promoting her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning in Nashville in May, the actress allegedly tried to have alcohol and industrial-grade nitrous oxide canisters – known as whippets – delivered to her hotel room. “Security at the hotel stopped a [delivery service] order to her hotel room, which was several industrial grade nitrous oxide cans that she was planning on huffing,” a source told Page Six. Another source claimed: “She had alcohol and whippets delivered. They wouldn’t allow it up to her room.” The outlet reported Hayden “wasn’t happy” when the alleged delivery was blocked. But her friend Kasey Kitchen denied the report, saying: “She was in Nashville for a short amount of time and slept for most of it. She also had private security with her.” Hayden had spoken candidly about her years-long battle with addiction and alcoholism, including in her memoir. She claimed she was first given “happy pills” as a teenager to make her more energetic during red carpet appearances. The actress said her problems later spiraled as she battled postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014. “The first thing I’d thought of when I woke up was alcohol. Not my child, not my job, and not the rest of my life. I needed a drink to function — at 6 am,” she wrote. Hayden first entered rehab in 2015 when her daughter was four months old and later underwent eight months of treatment in 2020. She had since publicly spoken about being sober and rebuilding her life, while writing in her memoir that she had begun “self-harming in the form of substance abuse.” She added: “My people-pleasing had built up, and up, it was anger and anxiety and frustration.” Her death remains under investigation. Comment now