The recent passing of actress Hayden Panettiere at the age of 36 has sparked a wave of public statements and criticisms. Among the most notable responses is that of Lesley Vogel, Panettiere’s mother, who has taken issue with comments made by media personalities Gayle King and Megyn Kelly.
Vogel’s criticism comes in the wake of King’s remarks on CBS Mornings and Kelly’s statements on The Megyn Kelly Show. Both figures have been accused of lacking compassion and professionalism in their public comments about Panettiere’s struggles and Vogel’s role as her mother.
Lesley Vogel’s Response to Criticism
In an interview with the Daily Mail Vogel expressed her deep disappointment with the lack of compassion shown by King and Kelly. She stated, “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 emphasized that neither King nor Kelly reached out to her before making their public statements. “No one reached out to me before,” she said. “It’s shameful. It’s unconscionable to me.”
Gayle King’s Criticism of Lesley Vogel
During a CBS Mornings broadcast, King read a statement made by Vogel regarding Panettiere’s struggles. King then commented, “You know, guys, you read this and all I can think is, ‘Thanks, mom, for nothing.'”
King further expressed her sadness over Vogel’s choice of words, stating, “It makes me so sad of the opportunity that you have after your daughter’s death. That that’s what you choose to leave us with.”
Megyn Kelly’s Harsh Words
Megyn Kelly, known for her straightforward commentary, went on The Megyn Kelly Show and declared, “You failed at your job… You got an F as a parent.” Kelly’s remarks were directed at Vogel, criticizing her for the strained relationship she had with her daughter.
Kelly continued, “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.”
The Complex Relationship Between Hayden Panettiere and Lesley Vogel
Panettiere had been open about her estranged relationship with her mother, who also served as her manager when she was growing up in the industry. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning Panettiere detailed the pressure she felt from Vogel.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in May, Panettiere spoke about the challenges of writing about her childhood and relationship with her mom. “Having to touch on everything about my relationship with my mother, that was one of the harder things to talk about,” she said. “While writing it, I realized even more so how much of a toll it took on me.”
Page Six reported in May that Vogel had chosen the “no-contact route” with Panettiere after “20 years of trauma” and on the advice of professionals.
Vogel’s son and Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, also died in at the age of 28.
