Pressure has been mounting on Neutrogena for several months to address an accusation made by Hayden Panettiere in May, which intensified following the actor’s recent passing.
Neutrogena has now broken its silence through an Instagram post, although comments were disabled. The post did not elaborate on the reasons behind ending its long-standing partnership with Panettiere or address the claim that it was related to her discussion of postpartum depression.
The company stated, “We are proud to have collaborated with her and acknowledge that we failed to offer adequate support during a challenging period. This goes against Neutrogena’s values and identity.”
Allegation Details
Panettiere, known for roles in various TV series and as a former Neutrogena global ambassador from 2005 to 2015, revealed her battle with postpartum depression publicly in 2015. Shortly after, her partnership with Neutrogena ended.
During a podcast interview in May, Panettiere alleged that Neutrogena attempted to terminate her contract following her 2015 comments under the contract’s morality clause. Despite objections from her representative, she felt excluded from future collaborations with the brand.
Panettiere expressed disappointment in the lack of communication from the company following the incident, emphasizing the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding postpartum depression.
Public Response
Fans initiated a boycott against Neutrogena after the podcast episode was released. One influencer even incorporated the podcast audio into a video titled “Neutrogena hates women!”
Following Panettiere’s demise, supporters resumed their criticism of Neutrogena. They flooded the brand’s Instagram and Threads accounts, demanding a public response to the allegations.
One user on Threads garnered over 70,000 likes for calling out Neutrogena for terminating Panettiere after her postpartum depression disclosure and subsequent passing. Similar sentiments were echoed on Instagram and Reddit.
Neutrogena’s Statement
Neutrogena expressed grief over Panettiere’s death in their Instagram post, describing her as a valued member of their community. They refrained from an immediate response out of respect for the actor’s family and highlighted her bravery in speaking out.
The brand pledged a substantial investment in aiding women’s access to postpartum depression support, promising further details once initiatives are implemented.
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