Tina Arena blames Hayden Panettiere’s mother Lesley Vogel for part of actress’s death in radio interview

Australian singer Tina Arena has launched a scathing attack on Hayden Panettiere’s mother, blaming her parenting for the death of the 36-year-old actress.

Arena made the comments during a radio interview with Jonesy & Amanda on Gold FM, saying she was “so disturbed” after briefly seeing Lesley Vogel speak about her daughter’s death on television she had to turn it off.

“When I look at the parents today, not all of them, but particularly, let’s take the example of that beautiful young woman, Hayden Panettiere,” Arena said.

“I very briefly saw her mother being interviewed on television this morning, and I was so disturbed by it that I actually switched off.”

“I don’t have anything to hear from this woman, absolutely nothing.

“Because it’s pretty clear to me that she’s a big part of the reason why we’ve lost this young lady at the age of 36.”

Arena went on to describe Vogel as “a highly irresponsible parent” who “thought about her own life and lived vicariously through her daughter”.

The mother-daughter relationship had been fractured for years, with Panettiere previously speaking about the difficulties of growing up with Vogel not only as her mother but also as her manager.

“Now if people can’t discern that for themselves by looking at that woman in her eyes and the instability in her eyes, I don’t have the physical bandwidth anymore with things like that,” Arena told Gold FM.

“That is why I am outspoken. I can’t help it because if I don’t say something, then I’m playing a part in that.”

The comments came as Arena reflected on her own childhood and her parents’ role in supporting her career after she rose to fame as a child on Young Talent Time.

Having grown up in the entertainment industry with the backing of a strong family unit, Arena said support and guidance are crucial for young performers.

She said she wished her mother, who is now nearly 91 and “a bit withdrawn”, could have been interviewed about what it was like to be “an extraordinary parent when you have a kid in the public eye”.

Arena’s comments come after Vogel spoke publicly about her daughter’s death, telling NBC that she believed Panettiere had “lost her way”.

“I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different,” Vogel said. “I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”

Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16 at the age of 36.

There is no official cause of death yet. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, but the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional testing.

Greenville police have also said their preliminary investigation found “no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances”.

Panettiere was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest after police and emergency medical services were called to a Greenville residence. She was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

Arena, who turns 60 next year, said she felt a responsibility to speak openly about issues she believed were important.

“I kind of have a bit of a responsibility to not play because I don’t play the bulls*** game,” she told Jonesy & Amanda.

“I will speak up about it because I see that there’s people that don’t know. So if we can learn something from one another, that’s the beautiful thing about life.”

The singer was appearing on Gold FM to discuss her new documentary Tina Arena: Unravel Me, as well as the death of Young Talent Time creator Johnny Young, her career and the music industry’s streaming model.

Arena’s comments about Panettiere’s mother were made unsolicited during a broader discussion about raising children who grow up in the public eye.