Hayden Panettiere’s Ex-Fiancé Wladimir Klitschko Breaks Silence On Her Death & Promises To Protect Daughter's Memory Of Her

Hayden Panettiere‘s ex-fiancé and baby daddy, Wladimir Klitschko, is mourning her deeply upsetting loss.

As Perezcious readers know, the Nashville star shockingly passed away on Sunday in South Carolina. She was just 36. The cause of death has not been confirmed. She shared an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with the Ukrainian boxer. She agreed to give her ex full custody of their little girl in 2018 amid some personal struggles, but had maintained a close bond with her daughter and visited Europe often to spend quality time. So, as you can imagine, this is an unimaginably difficult time for the family.

Sharing a family photo on Instagram on Tuesday, the athlete mourned:

“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief. The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”

He went on to reflect:

“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”

He also vowed to make sure Kaya always remembers exactly who her mother was:

“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.”

The tear-jerking message concluded:

“I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.

I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say. Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences.

Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden”