ALBAWABA - In her final interview, three months before her passing, American actress Hayden Panettiere revealed haunting information about how she was betrayed by a friend and sex trafficked by a "very famous man" on a yacht at the age of 18.
The actress best known for starring in popular TV shows Heroes and Nashville died at 36. Reports state that authorities still haven't confirmed the cause of her death. However, evidence reportedly suggests that her passing could be linked to a drug overdose.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to the media, "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her and to the millions who watched her onscreen."
Hayden Panettiere reveals she was sex trafficked at 18 in final interview
In a podcast interview with Jay Shetty, Panettiere revealed she was betrayed by a close friend whom she "had grown to trust and see as a protector" by leading her into a boat at the age of 18. The actress further stated that she was told to "perform sexual acts" on the boat with the "Very famous man" who was older than her.
She said during the podcast, "There was no hints of anything like that happening, so it took me by surprise."
Panettiere added that the man acted as if it were "just an average day for him" after she was led into a "very small room" below the boat's deck, where he was undressed.
The late Heroes actress explained how she fled:
"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."
