Hayden Panettiere, known for her performances in Heroes and the Scream film franchise, is taking the time to address fan concerns about a recent interview with People.

The actress took to Instagram to post a lengthy response to the public and fans following the contentious interview, in which Panetierre delivered answers with slurred speech while discussing heavy topics ranging from her brother Jansen Panettiere’s sudden death to her relationship with her daughter.

Following the release of the interview tape, fans expressed their concerns about Panettiere, who has previously spoken openly about her issues with sobriety, including to People in 2022.

Panettiere is now defending her interview, explaining why she slurred her words, and calling out those who judged her in the video.

“I’d want to take a moment to address the issue surrounding a recent interview I had with People Magazine. It’s unbelievable that I’m even in this position, but I feel compelled to confront it in a setting where I won’t be judged for how quickly or slowly I talk,” Panettiere began the statement. “I hadn’t slept in two days before the shoot since one of my dogs was recovering from an emergency surgery. The session lasted 8 hours, followed by an hour-long on-camera interview. The interview began nicely, although for the record, the first part was not included in the version uploaded by PEOPLE Magazine.

“I was exhausted,” she explained. “My representative ended the interview early because it became clear that I was fading, especially as the subject matter became more serious. We asked the interviewer if we might reschedule for another day or conduct a follow-up interview via Zoom. She informed us that it wasn’t required, and that she thought it was an intense and touching interview. We were also informed that it will be edited and turned into a lovely piece.”

“The magazine does not grant approval for images or video interviews before they run,” Panettiere said. “We see the interview when it goes live.”

“Grief appears differently on everyone. “Whether or not I am taking medication is none of anyone’s business; it is between me and my doctor,” she added. “I’m doing interviews to promote my new film because I’m really proud of it. The underlying issue here is social media’s toxicity, as well as a clickbait-driven news cycle. Mental health is very important, and I hope folks reading this understand that what you say behind a computer screen can have a negative influence on someone.”

She went on to say, “For all of you who have come to my defense amongst this commotion, I am extremely grateful. As I already stated, I am a work in progress. “We all are.” Panettiere noted that she was promoting her new picture Amber Alert, which is set to premiere on Friday, September 27th.

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