Neutrogena Faces Backlash
Neutrogena is facing renewed criticism following the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, as comments she made about her former relationship with the skincare brand have resurfaced online.
Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36 after she was found unresponsive at her home in Greenville, South Carolina. Authorities have said the cause of death has not yet been determined, and there was no initial indication of foul play or trauma.
The backlash surrounding Neutrogena centers on Panettiere’s account of what happened to her decade long partnership with the company after she publicly discussed her experience with postpartum depression.
Panettiere had been associated with Neutrogena for roughly a decade and served as a global brand ambassador. In interviews surrounding the release of her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, she discussed how speaking publicly about postpartum depression affected her relationship with the company.
According to Panettiere’s account, she discussed her experience with postpartum depression during a 2015 television appearance. She later said she believed the disclosure contributed to Neutrogena ending its relationship with her. Reports indicate that the company ultimately chose not to renew her contract.
Her comments resurfaced after her death, prompting criticism across social media and calls from some users to boycott Neutrogena. The controversy has focused particularly on the perception that Panettiere was not adequately supported while publicly discussing a serious mental health struggle.
Neutrogena responded publicly on Thursday, acknowledging the criticism and expressing regret over how Panettiere felt during that period.
“We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere’s passing.”
The company said Panettiere had been a valued member of the Neutrogena community for more than a decade and acknowledged that it had made her feel unsupported during what it described as a very difficult time. Neutrogena added that this was not consistent with what the company stands for.
Neutrogena also said it plans to make a significant investment in women’s health initiatives, including efforts related to postpartum depression and access to care. The company said it initially chose not to comment publicly following Panettiere’s death out of respect for her family.
The company’s statement has not ended the online debate. Critics continue to question the circumstances surrounding the end of Panettiere’s partnership with the brand, while the company has emphasized its regret over the way she experienced that period.
Panettiere had spoken openly throughout her career about postpartum depression, addiction and other personal struggles. In her memoir, she detailed the challenges she faced after the birth of her daughter, including the impact of postpartum depression and substance use on her life and career.
Her death has brought renewed attention to those conversations and to Panettiere’s willingness to speak publicly about subjects that were once heavily stigmatized in Hollywood.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, and authorities have not announced an official cause. As scrutiny surrounding Neutrogena continues, the controversy has become part of a broader conversation about how celebrities are treated when they publicly disclose mental health struggles and how companies respond when those disclosures intersect with commercial partnerships.
