Fans have turned on Neutrogena after an interview resurfaced in which Hayden Panettiere claimed the skincare brand tried to end its decade-long relationship with her after she spoke publicly about postpartum depression.
The Heroes and Nashville actress made the allegation during a May 2026 appearance on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. Panettiere said Neutrogena wanted to terminate her contract after she discussed postpartum depression during a 2015 television interview, but her representative intervened.
The claims have attracted renewed attention following Panettiere's death aged 36 on 16 August. Her family confirmed her death, while authorities said no foul play was suspected. An official cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
How a 2015 Interview Allegedly Changed a Decade-Long Partnership
Panettiere said she had worked with Neutrogena for around 10 years when she appeared on Live! with Kelly and Michael in 2015.
She had not planned to discuss postpartum depression during the interview, but when the subject arose, she decided to speak honestly about her experience.
'I had no intention of, or planned to talk about postpartum depression. It just came up, and I was just being honest,' she recalled on Shetty's podcast.
According to Panettiere, she later received word that Neutrogena wanted to fire her. Her representative allegedly responded that the company could not legally dismiss her for the disclosure.
Panettiere said the contract continued for that year, but she believed the relationship was effectively over and she was not invited back the following year. She also recalled being hurt that, after a decade with the company, she did not hear from those she had worked with.
Neutrogena has not publicly confirmed Panettiere's version of events.
Panettiere Spoke Openly About Postpartum Depression
Panettiere welcomed her daughter Kaya in December 2014 and later became one of the more prominent celebrities to speak openly about postpartum depression.
In her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, she also described a traumatic birth involving a C-section, infection and seven blood transfusions, as well as her subsequent struggles with postpartum depression and addiction.
Her openness about those experiences has become a major part of the conversation surrounding her legacy following her death.
Fans Call For Neutrogena Boycott
Panettiere's allegations have now sparked anger on Reddit, where a post titled 'What Neutrogena did to Hayden deserves a boycott' attracted thousands of upvotes within hours.
Some commenters said they would stop buying Neutrogena products after learning about the allegation. One wrote that they would 'not buy from them ever again', arguing that the company should have supported Panettiere and other women instead.
Others focused specifically on the stigma surrounding postpartum depression. One commenter argued that shame around the condition can prevent women from understanding what they are experiencing, while another called it 'appalling' that a company whose products are marketed heavily towards women would allegedly abandon a spokesperson over something many women experience.
Another Reddit user said Panettiere's Neutrogena adverts were a 'core memory' from their younger years before adding: 'Shame on Neutrogena.'
Why Her Claims Are Resonating Again
The renewed backlash comes as fans revisit Panettiere's willingness to discuss experiences that were once far less openly addressed.
For some commenters, the controversy is particularly difficult to reconcile with Neutrogena's position as a beauty brand selling products primarily associated with women. One Reddit user pointed to the apparent contradiction of marketing beauty products to women while allegedly distancing the company from a woman discussing postpartum depression.
Panettiere's account remains her allegation, and Neutrogena has not publicly confirmed that her postpartum depression disclosure was the reason the partnership ended.
But more than a decade after the original interview, the story has found a new audience. For fans now calling for a boycott, it has also reopened a wider conversation about how women are treated when they speak publicly about maternal mental health and whether brands that market themselves to women should be expected to stand behind them during difficult periods.
