Hayden Panettiere’s recent revelation about her bisexuality has drawn a skeptical response from her estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, who is publicly questioning the timing of her daughter’s announcement.
In an interview published by the Daily Mail, Vogel said she found Panettiere’s decision to come out as bisexual just as she promotes her new memoir “very interesting.”
“I do not believe it was being hidden, but there is no historic proof that this is the case,” Vogel told the outlet.
“I do think the timing of this coming out is very interesting.”
Panettiere’s comments about her sexuality came earlier this week in an interview with Us Weekly.
There, the “Heroes” and “Bring It On” star also spoke openly about her fractured relationship with her mother.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a relationship right now,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t leave the door open for the opportunity to present itself one day. It’s hard for me to say, but I’ve chosen to be brutally honest.”
FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest
A representative for the actress did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
In the same interview, Panettiere explained that she explores her sexuality more deeply in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” and that it took her years to feel comfortable discussing it publicly. She joked that it’s “better late than never.”
She said she never felt it was “the right time” to share her truth, explaining that in her younger years she felt pressure to appear perfect and was not encouraged to be herself.
Then, she added, came a cultural moment when “people coming out, especially women, saying that they were bisexual or liked girls, was a fad.”
Panettiere said she feared her honesty might be seen as simply following a trend.
“It was a very difficult topic to articulate properly,” she continued. “It’s sad I had to wait until I was 36 years old to share that part of me.”
Panettiere went on to say that she has dated women before but has not fallen in love with one.
“It was scary, though, because there were paparazzi always waiting for me outside to follow me everywhere,” she recalled.
She added that she was “much more into women even as a child than … men.”
The Golden Globe nominee also said she had explored her feelings privately but kept them hidden for fear of exposure.
“I have explored it, but because I hadn’t shared this with anybody, I didn’t really have the courage to throw myself fully emotionally into it,” she explained. “Because then if I did fall in love, that wasn’t something that I wanted to ever have to hide.”
MORE NEWS: Bill Maher’s Face Says It All as GOP Crushes Dems at Their Own Gerrymandering Game [WATCH]
“This Is Me: A Reckoning” is set for release on May 19, marking a turning point in Panettiere’s willingness to be candid about both her personal identity and family struggles.
Her mother’s remarks suggest that their ongoing tension remains unresolved, even as Panettiere publicly embraces a new chapter of self-acceptance and openness.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.