Details about Hayden Panettiere‘s past emerged ahead of her May 2026 book release — but a connection to Diana Jenkins raised some eyebrows.
Days before Panettiere’s This Is Me: A Reckoning was published, she appeared on the “On Purpose With Jay Shetty” podcast. During the episode, Panettiere read an excerpt from her memoir, recalling a time she was “told to perform” sexual acts with an older man whom she had met through a friend.
“Even though I’d lived such a huge life and I thought I was oh so mature at 18 … scientifically, your frontal lobes don’t develop until we’re what, 25, 26?” Panettiere said. “So even though I felt like I could make healthy decisions, safe decisions, I wasn’t capable of being fully aware of what was going on around me.”
The “shocking” incident took place in a “very small room” on a boat, Panettiere alleged. The person who facilitated the entire interaction was “a protector” and someone Panettiere thought “had my back.”
“She physically put me in the bed next to this undressed man who was very famous,” Panettiere recalled, adding that she “bolted” to another room and got out of the situation.
Internet users were quick to speculate that Panettiere was referring to Jenkins, who was on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for one season in 2022. Jenkins has since denied that she was the person Panettiere was talking about.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Panettiere’s connection to Jenkins:
How Did Hayden Panettiere and Diana Jenkins Meet?
Panettiere was photographed for the 2009 coffee-table book Room 23, which Jenkins worked on alongside photographer Deborah Anderson. The Heroes actress was 20 years old at the time.
Are Hayden Panettiere and Diana Jenkins Friends?
Panettiere and Jenkins showcased their friendship at the Room 23 launch party in February 2009, posing with their arms around each other in a sweet moment.
What Did Diana Jenkins Say About Hayden Panettiere?
After internet users alleged that Panettiere was referring to Jenkins with her story, the RHOBH alum vehemently denied the claims.
“Diana has had to deal with false online rumors before, and sadly this is just another example of that,” Jenkins’ rep told TMZ in a May 2026 statement. “So let me be 100 percent clear about this: It most certainly is not Diana, and anyone who claims it is her will be sued.”
What Else Did Hayden Panettiere Say About the Boat Incident?
Panettiere explained in a May 2026 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that there was a reason those involved in the boat incident were not named.
“It was a bad look for them and [the people I didn’t name] were generally people within my industry. They’re people I could run into again,” she said. “I didn’t want to put myself in that position. Things happened a long time ago, but it was to protect me and my company from being sued by some very pissed-off famous people.”
