• by Tanya Gazdik , 3 hours ago

Neutrogena is dealing with a renewed firestorm regarding its handling of actor Hayden Panettiere’s contract after she stated she suffered from postpartum depression. She died on Aug. 16.

In her recent memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning" and interviews promoting the book, the 36-year-old said the cosmetics brand, owned by Kenvue, wanted to fire her after she shed light on her condition on "Live with Kelly and Michael" in 2015, less than a year after she gave birth to daughter Kaya. 

“Panettiere's comments drew backlash in May from social media users – including one beauty content creator who declared "Neutrogena hates women!" – and criticism of the brand saw renewed fervor after the ‘Heroes’ actress died at age 36 on Aug. 16,” according to USA Today. “One user call[ed] Panettiere's commercials a ‘core memory’ for millennials.”

The "Heroes" star was the face of the skincare brand for about 10 years.

Neutrogena’s social media posts across various platforms are flooded with comments slamming them over their alleged treatment of Panettiere and encouraging Neutrogena-free skincare routines.

“One Reddit post, which has more than 5,000 upvotes, proposed a boycott against the company in honor of Panettiere,” according to The Independent. “The comments echoed that attitude, with users vowing to never buy products from the company again.”

Panettiere, who entered treatment for her depression, spoke about the condition at a time when celebrity conversations about maternal mental health remained rare and often carried professional consequences.

“Postpartum depression can qualify for workplace protections under federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act, depending on the worker, employer, and circumstances,” according to Complex. “Celebrity endorsement agreements, however, are typically governed by private contracts rather than standard employer-employee rules.” 

Panettiere never announced legal action against Neutrogena, and no evidence has emerged that the company violated employment law. She was found in cardiac arrest at a Greenville, South Carolina residence with no signs of trauma or foul play, and her cause of death remains under investigation.

“Panettiere … became a familiar face to television audiences across the 2000s, both through network dramas and as the long-running brand ambassador for skincare giant Neutrogena,” according to Parade. “Her advertisements, anchored by the brand’s splash-face imagery, ran heavily during the peak of her early fame.”