Gayle King Slams Panettiere's Mom Over Statement
Gayle King said Lesley Vogel's statement about her late daughter Hayden Panettiere made her think, 'Thanks, Mom, for nothing.' King made the remarks Wednesday on CBS Mornings, days after Panettiere died Sunday at 36.
- Panettiere was found dead Sunday in a South Carolina luxury loft complex.
- Vogel's statement said Panettiere 'sadly lost her way' and blamed ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson.
- Hickerson was jailed in 2021 for felony domestic violence against Panettiere.
- Panettiere's father described her as 'an incredible light and a force of nature.'
Why it matters: Panettiere's death came three years after her brother Jansen died at 28. Her cause of death is not yet confirmed, though an apparent overdose has been reported.
- Panettiere fired Vogel as her manager and wrote about their 'toxic and complicated' relationship in her May memoir.
- Co-host Vladimir Duthiers said Panettiere 'cannot respond now,' calling Vogel's statement 'unseemly.'
How 6 sources split on this story
Where they split: Both outlets report King's criticism similarly; coverage differs in that the New York Post includes Vogel's earlier criticism of Panettiere's memoir and Panettiere's own public response to their estrangement.
Left coverage, 2 sources: The left frames this as a story about a mother failing her daughter even in death, emphasizing the emotional weight of the unresolved relationship and King's moral clarity in calling it out.
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right covers King's criticism straightforwardly while adding fuller context — Vogel's earlier attacks on Panettiere's memoir and Panettiere's own public statements about the estrangement — letting readers assess the family conflict more broadly.
What’s next: Panettiere's official cause of death remains undetermined pending investigation.
- Vogel has not issued a follow-up statement in response to King's remarks.
- What caused Panettiere's death, and will a formal determination change how the public circumstances are understood?
- Will Vogel respond publicly to the criticism from King and Panettiere's CBS Mornings co-hosts?