"I was very, very hurt and deeply disappointed": Hayden Panettiere's mom Lesley Vogel calls out Gayle King and Megyn Kelly over daughter's death

Gladys Altamarino Mon, August 24, 2026 at 3:56 AM UTC

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Lesley Vogel, the estranged mother of late actress Hayden Panettiere, is speaking out against comments made by Gayle King and Megyn Kelly following her daughter's death.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lesley Vogel said she was hurt by what she viewed as a lack of compassion from both women, particularly because neither reached out to her before speaking publicly.

"I was very, very hurt and deeply disappointed in the lack of professionalism, the lack of compassion in slamming someone who's lost two children, without even a modicum of consideration. No one reached out to me before."

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The actress-producer further said she didn't hear from the two when her two children passed, adding:

"It's shameful. It's unconscionable to me."

Hayden Panettiere, known for Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, died on Sunday, Aug. 16, at age 36.

Gayle King comments on Lesley Vogel after Hayden Panettiere's death, Megyn Kelly calls her a "loser"

In a recent episode of CBS Mornings, Gayle King spoke about Hayden Panettiere's reported strained relationship with her mother, saying:

"You know, guys, you read this and all I can think is, 'Thanks, Mom, for nothing.'"

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The host also recalled the late actress's interview with Jay Shetty, in which she revealed how she was connected with her mother who used to be her manager but when she turned 19, she fired Lesley Vogel so that she could connect with her better.

Gayle King went on:

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"It makes me so sad that, of the opportunity that you have after your daughter's death, that that's what you choose to leave us with."

The host's comments were made alongside fellow MCs Kelly O' Grady and Vladimir Duthiers, who agreed and described the remarks "unseemly."

Meanwhile, former Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly slammed the late star's estranged mom on The Megyn Kelly Show, saying:

"You failed at your job… You got an F as a parent. You made a bunch of money off of your daughter. You probably have a super nice car and a big house. You failed. You raised someone to the age of majority who doesn't feel safe, loved, or cherished. You're a loser."

Lesley Vogel's comments on daughter Hayden Panettiere after her death

Gayle King's comments were also shared following Lesley Vogel's NBC News interview after her daughter’s death, where she discussed Hayden Panettiere's struggles and her relationship with Brian Hickerson.

The actress-producer said the family had been trying to distance Hayden Panettiere from Hickerson for some time and criticized his presence in her daughter's life.

"This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson."

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She also reflected on Hayden Panettiere's career and the difficulties she faced after growing up in the entertainment industry.

"I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry — it is a struggle and it’s a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path."

Lesley Vogel previously said she believed her daughter had "lost her way" and expressed regret over the direction her life had taken.

"I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes."

Lesley Vogel said she was particularly disappointed by the decision to criticize her daughter without first speaking with her or considering the family's grief.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”