For months, there has been increasing pressure on Neutrogena, a skincare company, to address an accusation made by Hayden Panettiere back in May. The calls for a response grew louder following the actor’s recent passing. Neutrogena has now broken its silence with an Instagram post.
In the post, which has comments disabled, Neutrogena acknowledged that it did not delve into specifics regarding the termination of its longstanding partnership with Panettiere or address the claim that it was related to her discussion about postpartum depression. The brand stated, “We are proud to have collaborated with her and recognize that we may have failed to provide adequate support during a challenging period. This does not align with Neutrogena’s values or identity.”
Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in “Heroes,” “Bring it On: All or Nothing,” and “Nashville,” served as a global brand ambassador for Neutrogena from 2005 to 2015. Following her public struggle with postpartum depression in 2015 on “Live with Kelly and Michael,” her partnership with Neutrogena came to an end.
During a conversation with Jay Shetty on his podcast “On Purpose” in May, Panettiere alleged that Neutrogena attempted to terminate her contract due to her 2015 comments on postpartum depression, citing the morality clause. Panettiere expressed disappointment in how women experiencing postpartum depression are perceived and the stigma surrounding the condition.
After the podcast episode was released, fans initiated a boycott against Neutrogena. There was a notable backlash, with one beauty influencer even incorporating the podcast audio into a video titled “Neutrogena hates women!”
In response to the recent passing of Hayden Panettiere, fans have resurfaced their grievances. They have flooded Neutrogena’s Instagram and Threads accounts, urging the company to address the accusations publicly. Neutrogena’s Instagram post expressing sorrow over Panettiere’s death emphasized her importance to the brand and refrained from immediate responses out of respect for her family.
Neutrogena commended Panettiere’s bravery in speaking out and pledged to contribute to raising awareness about postpartum depression. The brand announced a significant investment in a community health partner to enhance support for women, including those dealing with postpartum depression, with detailed plans to follow once implemented.