Hayden Panettiere reveals more details about 'famous' singer she was put into bed with at 18

Hayden Panettiere is sharing more details about a disturbing experience she says happened when she was 18 years old and aboard a luxury yacht in the South of France.

In her new memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, the actress writes that a trusted female friend led her into a cabin and encouraged her to get into bed with a “famous thirtysomething British singer-songwriter,” according to People. Panettiere says the man was shirtless and appeared to act as though the situation was entirely normal.

Panettiere recalls that she initially froze in shock but quickly realized she did not want to be there. She left the cabin and returned to her own room on the yacht, later describing the incident as a profound betrayal by someone she believed was looking out for her.

“The fact that I was 18,” Panettiere writes, reflecting on how young and vulnerable she was at the time. She says that while she thought she was mature, she now understands she was not fully equipped to recognise and process the danger of the situation.

The Hayden Panettiere actress chose not to identify the singer in the book. She previously explained that naming the individual could expose her to legal and professional consequences, and she wanted to focus on her own healing rather than public speculation.

Panettiere’s memoir, released May 19, explores her experiences with fame, addiction, family struggles and recovery, offering a candid account of the challenges she faced growing up in the entertainment industry.