:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hayden-panettiere-blonde-premiere-051926-1-448dd34b9901419faa8b9401585be733.jpg "Hayden Panettiere’s team allegedly planned an ‘intervention’ prior to her death, A Breed Apart di...")
Filmmaker Griff Furst claimed she was “fighting to stay sober” on the 2025 movie set. Hayden Panettiere’s team allegedly planned an ‘intervention’ prior to her death, A Breed Apart director claims Filmmaker Griff Furst claimed she was “fighting to stay sober” on the 2025 movie set. By Shelby Stivale :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShelbyStivaleEWauthorphoto3701789a1fc042bb93f5cf615ad9f2e3.jpg) Shelby Stivale Shelby Stivale is a senior writer at . She has been working at EW since July 2026. Her work has previously appeared on Us Weekly and J14. EW's editorial guidelines August 20, 2026 11:24 a.m.
Filmmaker Griff Furst claimed she was “fighting to stay sober” on the 2025 movie set.
Hayden Panettiere’s team allegedly planned an ‘intervention’ prior to her death, A Breed Apart director claims
Filmmaker Griff Furst claimed she was “fighting to stay sober” on the 2025 movie set.
By Shelby Stivale
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Shelby-Stivale-EW-author-photo-3701789a1fc042bb93f5cf615ad9f2e3.jpg)
Shelby Stivale
Shelby Stivale is a senior writer at **. She has been working at EW since July 2026. Her work has previously appeared on Us Weekly and J-14.
EW's editorial guidelines
August 20, 2026 11:24 a.m. ET
Hayden Panettiere at the ‘Blonde’ premiere in Hollywood in 2022. Credit:
Jon Kopaloff/Getty
- *A Breed Apart *director Griff Furst claimed that he was “asked to participate” in an intervention for Hayden Panettiere.
- The filmmaker alleged that she was “fighting to stay sober” on the set of their 2025 movie.
- The *Nashville *actress died at age 36 on Aug. 16.
Director Griff Furst was allegedly “asked to participate” in an intervention for Hayden Panettiere prior to her death.
The filmmaker, who directed Panettiere in the 2025 movie *A Breed Apart*, claimed in an Aug. 19 Instagram video that the late actress was “fighting to stay sober” on set.
“I grew up on movie sets and I know a whole lot of child actors very well. I understand what it does to somebody to be put in front of a camera before they’re old enough to consent,” Furst started off his video, before discussing Panettiere specifically. “I was rooting for Hayden to beat the addiction that she spoke about openly and publicly.”
Furst explained that “no matter how certain you are that an actor or crew member is in a bad situation,” there’s nothing that a producer or director can do to step in and “verify” anything on set.
“You can adjust the schedule, you can collect internal reporting and you can assign a handler to make sure that that individual is being taken care of as best as they can,” he added. In Panettiere’s case, Furst said he stayed in touch with the actress’ team, which is where the alleged plan for an intervention came from.
“I was asked to participate, and I said yes,” Furst claimed. “That intervention did not happen, at least not that I am aware of. I wasn’t leading the charge on it. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for me.”
* *has reached out to Panettiere’s team for comment.
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Hayden Panettiere in ‘A Breed Apart’.
Lionsgate Movies/YouTube
A rep for Panettiere confirmed on Aug. 16 that the actress had died at age 36, releasing a statement on behalf of the *Nashville *star’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” the statement read. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
South Carolina coroner reveals Hayden Panettiere’s toxicology report timeline
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Hayden Panettiere ‘was struggling’ on set of final film, costar says
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EW obtained a coroner’s report on Monday, stating that Panettiere died at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, S.C. The report claimed that “an autopsy was completed” and there were “no signs of trauma” that “would have contributed to the death.” Multiple outlets have reported that her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson was present.
Furst stated in a separate Instagram video earlier this week that Hickerson was on the *A Breed Apart* set with Panettiere. He couldn’t speak to Panettiere and Hickerson’s relationship but stated on Wednesday that the *Heroes *actress “deserved better company” around her.
“I was very lucky to work with Hayden,” he concluded. “I wish she was still here.”
Watch Furst’s full video above.
*If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at **988lifeline.org** 24/7.*
*If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.*
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Source: Celebrity
Published: August 22, 2026 at 04:39PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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