Lesley Vogel disputed a claim made in her late daughter Hayden Panettiere’s May memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, during a Monday appearance on Good Morning America. Vogel addressed ongoing public scrutiny regarding her estranged daughter’s death at age 36, denying that she ever told a 19-year-old Panettiere “You owe me” regarding career management.
The Bottom Line
- Memoir Dispute: Vogel flatly denied the account in Panettiere’s memoir where the actress claimed her mother replied “You owe me” after Panettiere said she no longer wanted her to manage her career at age 19.
- Timeline of Strain: Vogel stated that Panettiere began going “downhill” at age 17 following her breakout role in NBC’s 2006 hit series Heroes.
- Mourning Backlash: Vogel pushed back against public critics, defending her domain over how she mourns the loss of her second child.
Disputing the Memoir and Managing the Narrative
During her interview on Monday, Vogel addressed a specific passage from Panettiere’s posthumous book, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May. According to the memoir, Panettiere informed her mother at age 19 that she no longer wanted her managing her career, to which Vogel allegedly replied, “You owe me.”
Vogel offered a different version of events to Good Morning America. “I remember being in her trailer and literally saying nothing,” Vogel said. “It was a very short, very brief conversation and then she returned to set. I know I didn’t say what she said I said.”
This public disagreement follows months of scrutiny over family dynamics. According to a May report by Page Six, Vogel had previously chosen a “no-contact route” with her daughter after “20 years of trauma” and on the advice of professionals. At the time, Vogel noted, “As many parents of entertainment children [know], we are all too familiar with the painful observation of watching the self-destructive paths they sometimes choose.”
Reflecting on the Impact of Breakthrough Stardom
Vogel also discussed the trajectory of her daughter’s career, pointing to her casting in NBC’s 2006 series Heroes as a turning point. “I would say Hayden had a very happy life up until she got Heroes at 16,” Vogel told Good Morning America. “Here she was the star of a major TV series, but I would say at 17 I started seeing her going downhill.”
| Date / Period | Event | Source Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Panettiere cast in NBC hit series Heroes at age 16. | Good Morning America |
| May | Release of memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning containing the “You owe me” claim. Also, reports of prior estrangement. | Page Six / Memoir |
| Recent | Vogel addresses critics, disputes memoir claims, and criticizes public commentary from media figures. | Good Morning America / Daily Mail |
Vogel explained that as Panettiere matured, she sought independence from her mother’s guidance. “As she got older and it wasn’t my voice anymore, I wasn’t in charge of her choices. I tried to give her the best advice I could. But again, any young person, teen, they want to be liberated. And I get that.”
Addressing Critics and Media Backlash
In addition to refuting memoir details, Vogel defended her public posture following her daughter’s sudden death. Addressing her detractors directly, she stated, “I would say to the haters out there, you don’t have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child. That’s my domain.”
Vogel also expressed frustration with media commentary, pointing to previous statements she made to the Daily Mail regarding remarks by CBS Mornings host Gayle King and podcaster Megyn Kelly. “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,” Vogel said.
Following her daughter’s death, Vogel spoke to NBC News on Tuesday, where she directed criticism at Panettiere’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, noting that he was present at the time of her death. Vogel emphasized her desire for her daughter’s legacy: “I want Hayden to be remembered for the talented, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman she really was.”
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