Wladimir Klitschko, Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiancé and father of her daughter, has broken his silence following her tragic death.
In an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday, Klitschko shared a throwback selfie with Hayden and their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
He described the moment as "a time of profound shock and grief" for their family, calling Hayden "an important part" of his life.
Klitschko praised her career while acknowledging the challenges she faced, writing: "She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry."
Addressing Kaya directly, he vowed: "I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was."
The Ukrainian boxer also expressed condolences to Hayden's family and asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Hayden and Wladimir were together on and off for nine years, finally splitting in 2018.
At that time, Hayden gave full custody of Kaya to Wladimir to focus on her health, and Kaya moved to Ukraine with her father.
Earlier this year, Hayden told Jay Shetty on his podcast that she hoped Kaya would eventually live with her, but she felt it would be unfair to uproot her daughter's life.
Hayden died on Sunday at the age of 26 after a possible overdose, with medics unable to save her at a South Carolina apartment.
Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, family, and Hollywood colleagues, including Alyson Stoner, Paris Hilton, and Tim Allen.
