Hayden Panettiere’s mother and ex-manager issues first official statement after actress’ death

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Hayden Panettiere’s death has left the entire industry shocked. The 36-year-old actress died far too young, and her estranged mother and former manager, Lesley Vogel, has now spoken out.

Vogel called Panettiere a “talented person” in many aspects of life and blamed the entertainment industry, at least partly, for making it easy for “young people” to lose their way.

According to Vogel, she only wished that her daughter could have stayed “true” to herself because “she had many incredible attributes.”

During a recent interview, Vogel did not hide her feelings but spoke openly about her daughter, who died at a young age.

Lesley Vogel breaks silence on Hayden Panettiere’s death

During an interview with NBC News, Vogel said, “I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments, and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry."

"It is a struggle, and it’s a very challenging industry, and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.”

She continued, "I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”

Despite the late actress and her mother having a troubled relationship, Panettiere addressed their complicated bond in her memoir, 'This Is Me: A Reckoning', published in May.

Hayden Panettiere’s troubled relationship with Lesley Vogel

For those unaware, Vogel was a former soap opera actress. She was also Panettiere’s manager when the actress started working in Hollywood at a very young age.

In her memoir, the actress called her mother a “perfectionist” and even shared a disturbing incident.

The late actress once shared that Vogel superglued a fallen tooth back into Panettiere’s mouth so that the young actress would not lose a job.

According to Variety, Panettiere also claimed that her mother pushed her to wear more “girly” clothes rather than allowing her tomboyish style.

Regarding her mother, Panettiere told Us Weekly, “Unfortunately, we don’t have a relationship right now” but “that doesn’t mean that I don’t leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day.”

When Panettiere’s memoir was released, Vogel told Page Six, “the present drama is partially to sell books…As many parents of entertainment children [know], we are all too familiar with the painful observation of watching the self-destructive paths they sometimes choose."

"No parent hopes for this scenario; we want our children to be the best of themselves and live a peaceful, joyful life. Sadly, this is out of our control. You cannot save someone who does not want to be saved," she added.