Hayden Panettiere Slams Claim She “Abandoned” 11-Year-Old Daughter

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Hayden Panettiere will always put her daughter Kaya first.

The singer, known for her role on the show Nashville, strongly denied accusations that she abandoned her 11-year-old child when she gave custody to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018. She stated these claims were untrue, explaining she was dealing with postpartum depression and addiction at the time.

Hayden expressed her sadness that anyone would believe she’d willingly give up her child. Speaking with Jay Shetty on the May 11th episode of the On Purpose podcast, she clarified that a common misunderstanding is that she was forced into treatment in the past, when actually, she actively chose to seek help herself.

The 36-year-old actress, fiercely protective like a “mother lion,” stated she would have done anything for her daughter, Kaya. So, when her ex-partner, Waldimir—whom she dated for nine years—suggested Kaya would be better off living with him in Europe while Hayden received treatment, the Heroes star made the very difficult choice to give up custody.

For years, I struggled with a terrible cycle of depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and substance abuse, just trying to escape it all, Hayden explained. Once I finally got better, I felt it would have been unfair and selfish to ask her to change her life, the life she had built.

Hayden described her connection with Kaya as “amazing,” sharing that they often video chat and Hayden visits her when she’s in Europe.

The actress from Bring It On: All or Nothing described the little girl as amazing, saying she’s cheerful, fluent in five languages, and loves to ride horses. She also shared that the girl has loving parents and feels very supported.

Hayden shared that she is doing well in all aspects of her life – mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He emphasized that she doesn’t feel abandoned, and he’s been very careful to ensure that remains true.

For more former celebrity couples sharing insight into their co-parenting dynamics, read on.

Despite ending their romantic relationship in 2023, the Grammy-winning artist and her Swedish-Syrian ex-partner continue to co-parent their children, Lucia and Renn.

Jwan shared with Attitude in September 2025 that they have a great relationship with their ex-partner. They’ve established a peaceful and stable co-parenting arrangement, living just ten minutes apart and staying in touch every other day, with a shared focus on their children’s well-being.

He described it as more than just an experience—it’s a whole way of life, and a very pleasant one at that.

Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green, parents to Noah, Bodhi, and Journey, prioritize their children’s well-being as they navigate co-parenting. Brian explained to TopMob News in April 2024 that their main focus is always ensuring the kids have a positive experience, acknowledging that a breakup will inevitably impact them, but they can control how it does. He emphasized the importance of choosing your battles, as disagreements that led to their separation won’t magically disappear when co-parenting. It’s about shifting the focus from personal feelings to what’s best for the children.

Megan, whose divorce from Brian was finalized in 2022, agrees completely. On The Drew Barrymore Show in 2023, she stated that it’s crucial to never speak negatively about the other parent, even subtly. She believes that accepting and loving their father is essential, as rejecting him would be rejecting a part of their children themselves, given his fundamental role in their lives and who they are.

Oh my gosh, Josh Duhamel and Fergie are just goals when it comes to co-parenting! I was listening to Josh on The Jess Cagle Show recently, and he was just glowing talking about Fergie. He said she’s an amazing woman, truly, and that she’s been so incredibly welcoming to his wife, Audra! Can you believe it? He said she’s genuinely thrilled for them and their baby, Shepherd, who was born in January 2024! It makes my heart so happy to hear that. It’s so sweet knowing she’s excited for them to grow their family – little Shepherd has a big brother, Axl, of course. Josh said it could have been so much harder, but they’ve managed to create a really civil situation, and it’s all thanks to Fergie’s kind heart. Honestly, after their divorce was finalized in 2019, I was worried, but seeing this? It’s just beautiful! They’re setting such a great example.

Irina Shayk, who has a daughter named Lea with her ex-partner Bradley Cooper, doesn’t like the label “co-parenting.” In a 2021 interview with ELLE, she explained that when she’s with Lea, she’s fully a mother, and when Lea is with Bradley, he’s fully her father. She believes parenting is simply parenting, regardless of the parents’ relationship status.

Irina and Bradley ended their four-year relationship in 2019, but they’ve remained friendly. Despite their busy lives, they continue to take family vacations, spend time together in New York, and support each other. Irina told the magazine in 2023 that Bradley is “the best father Lea and I could dream of,” and that their successful arrangement is due to their mutual effort to make it work.

As Mariah Carey has said, building a strong relationship takes time, and that’s true for co-parenting as well. Nick Cannon, who shares twins Moroccan and Monroe with Carey, says they’ve found a good routine.

Cannon described their relationship as a successful co-parenting partnership and a genuine friendship, noting Carey has taught him a lot. He considers her family.

Carey also seems pleased with how well she and Cannon have navigated co-parenting since their divorce in 2014. She told Harper’s Bazaar that she strives to be fair to their children, understanding how difficult it can be to grow up with divorced parents, ensuring the twins enjoy time with both of them.

In addition to Moroccan and Monroe, Nick Cannon has several other children: Zion and Mixolydian, Zillion Heir and Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa; Golden “Sagon,” Powerful Queen, and Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell; Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi; Onyx Ice with LaNisha Cole; and Halo Marie and the late Zen with Alyssa Scott.

We can’t talk about amicable breakups without mentioning Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. The Oscar-winning actress and the Coldplay singer famously coined the term “consciously uncoupling” when they announced their separation in 2014.

Gwyneth explained on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2020 that prioritizing their children, Apple and Moses, was the key. “It’s harder than it looks,” she said. “Some days you really don’t want to be with the person you’re divorcing. But if you’re committed to family dinner, you do it. You take a deep breath, make eye contact, remember your agreement, smile, hug, make a joke, and recommit to building a new relationship.”

The Goop founder emphasized that she and Martin will always remain a family. “That’s how it will be forever,” she said. “It’s not always perfect, we have good days and bad days, but we’re working towards unity, love, and what’s best for the kids. Just because you break up doesn’t mean you stop loving the qualities you once cherished in that person.”

Following their divorce in 2022, Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady have been navigating the challenges of co-parenting. In a 2024 interview with Robin Roberts, Gisele admitted some days are harder than others, but emphasized her children, Benjamin and Vivian, are smart and adaptable. She focuses on controlling her own actions and allowing them to adjust to different expectations. Gisele believes it’s about finding balance, with both she and Tom spending time with the kids, exposing them to different perspectives and enriching their lives. Tom echoed this sentiment, explaining that they are both committed to raising their children—including Jack, from a previous relationship with Bridget Moynahan—with love, kindness, empathy, and strong values, recognizing that their upbringing differs from their own.

Ben Affleck, having played a superhero himself, recognizes one in real life, and that includes his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. They share three children: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. Affleck has praised Garner as an incredible mother and a great co-parent. He told TopMob News in 2016 that they both prioritize their children and work together to raise them.

Jennifer Lopez, who married Ben in 2022 before divorcing in 2024, also acknowledged Garner’s skills as a co-parent, telling Vogue that they work well together.

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik broke up in 2021, but they’ve successfully navigated co-parenting their daughter, Khai. Zayn shared in 2023 on the Call Her Daddy podcast that they have a strong relationship focused on Khai’s well-being, saying, “It’s going well.” Gigi told The Sunday Times that prioritizing a child’s happiness is key for parents in similar situations, as you’ll have a long life alongside that person. She also expressed her joy that Khai has the opportunity to spend time with both of her parents.

Khloe Kardashian is continuing to co-parent with her ex, Tristan Thompson, despite past difficulties. She’s admitted it’s challenging to maintain a positive relationship with him, especially considering his history of infidelity, but she does it for their children, True and Tatum.

In an interview with tmrw in January 2024, Khloe explained that it’s hard to be friendly with someone you’re angry at, particularly in front of their kids. She’s had to learn to manage her emotions and avoid impulsive reactions she might later regret. However, she believes being a kind person is always the right choice.

Ultimately, Khloe wants her children to have a strong bond with Tristan, who also shares a son, Prince, with Jordan Craig, and another son, Theo, with Maralee Nichols. She believes that if a father wants to be involved in his children’s lives, she shouldn’t stand in the way.

Even though Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr separated in 2013, they continue to successfully co-parent their son, Flynn. Their blended family also includes Orlando’s current partner, Katy Perry, and Miranda’s husband, Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snapchat.

Miranda has spoken fondly of Katy, expressing her happiness that Orlando has found love. She emphasized that the most important thing is for Flynn to have happy parents, and she’s grateful for the positive relationships everyone shares.

Despite busy schedules and growing families – Orlando and Katy now have a daughter, Daisy Dove, while Miranda and Evan have sons Hart, Myles, and Pierre – they continue to prioritize coming together for important occasions. Miranda explained that they always find compromises and focus on what’s best for their entire family, with Flynn’s well-being being the top priority.

Kate Hudson believes it’s important to maintain friendly relationships with her ex-partners, Chris Robinson and Matt Bellamy, even after the romantic connection has ended. She explained to The Sunday Times in 2022 that she and Chris simply need to check in with each other periodically, especially as they co-parent their son, Ryder. She also praised Matt, Bingham’s father, as a “wonderful” co-parent. Kate feels that love doesn’t simply disappear after a breakup, and a different kind of loving relationship can still exist, especially when focused on the well-being of their child. Kate also shares daughter Rani with her fiancé, Danny Fujikawa. She acknowledges her family structure might not be conventional, but feels it’s a very strong and successful one, created with three children and three different fathers.

It can be challenging for divorced parents to get along, but Anna Faris says her relationship with her ex-husband Chris Pratt, his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, and their children is improving. Faris, who shares son Jack with Pratt, told People magazine in 2022 that they are all becoming closer and she appreciates the support they give each other. She described Katherine as “awesome” and praised how she interacts with Jack. Faris also mentioned that Katherine is very organized and handles things well. Now married to Michael Barrett, Faris feels much more at peace with the blended family situation, saying time has helped ease any lingering negativity and things feel much better now.

It’s helpful when co-parents agree, and Mel B says it took time for her and Eddie Murphy to build that kind of connection.

Mel B, a member of the Spice Girls, explained to Us Weekly in May 2025 that it was difficult to build a strong relationship with Eddie while dealing with PTSD and controlling behavior. She said she gradually managed to improve things. However, she also noted that their friendship has actually grown stronger in recent years, especially as they co-parent their teenage daughter, Angel. Angel often visits Eddie, and they enjoy spending time and going on vacation together. Mel B praised Eddie as a dedicated father to his ten children.

Even though the TV show The O.C. was known for its drama, Rachel Bilson and her ex, Hayden Christensen, have a positive co-parenting relationship. Bilson, who shares daughter Briar Rose with Christensen, told People magazine in 2024 that “Everything’s good” and that their daughter is thriving with support from both sides.

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2026-05-12 01:48