Brian Hickerson allegedly sent flirtatious messages to another woman months before Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death in South Carolina. The woman, who remained anonymous, claimed Hickerson contacted her after they met at a Greenville bar in March. She recently shared Instagram messages and texts that reportedly showed him repeatedly attempting to arrange a date.
The 26-year-old woman told Page Six that she met Hickerson at Cat’s Pajamas in Greenville on March 28. She admitted that she was “heavily intoxicated” at the time and did not “remember much of that night.”
Hickerson allegedly followed her Instagram account the following day using his since-deactivated profile, @brianhickerson_. “Great meeting you last night pretty lady. I owe you a date. I’m heading to [C]ity Tavern for a slushie in a bit you should join,” a message reportedly sent from his account read.
The woman said she did not know who Hickerson was or have any “knowledge” of his connection to Panettiere at the time. Page Six said they reviewed messages between the woman and one of her friends that supported her account. However, the outlet could not determine whether Hickerson’s alleged pursuit of the woman overlapped with his relationship with Panettiere. The actress and Hickerson had been photographed together at Los Angeles International Airport on March 2.
The Woman Said She Could Not Remember Their Conversation
The woman allegedly responded to Hickerson on April 1 and acknowledged that she had little memory of meeting him. “Hey Brian! I’m sorry I missed this, I’m awful with my inbox. I have to be so honest, I don’t remember much of that night. What happened?” she wrote, according to the outlet. “I’m sorry I missed your slushy invite, but I for sure would not have made it. Today is the first day I’ve had a clear mind since Saturday night.”
Hickerson reportedly told her that she “didn’t seem too drunk” and explained that he had gone out because his brother “was in town.” He also claimed that she had asked him to take her “somewhere nice on a date,” a request he joked “clearly throws Waffle House out the window.”
Hickerson reportedly suggested the upscale Greenville restaurant Halls Chophouse instead.
Hickerson Allegedly Continued Pursuing A Date
According to Page Six, Hickerson told the woman that he had recently moved to South Carolina from California. He allegedly wrote that he had “just moved here from Los Angeles so it was nice meeting a pretty girl in Greenville out of the blue.” “I also realized after I reached out on Instagram you gave me your number so I’ll shoot you a text if that’s better,” the message continued.
The woman reportedly said she would “definitely prefer to meet properly,” but began asking Hickerson questions about their first encounter and his age. Hickerson, now 37, allegedly responded, “I’m 36 but I read on a 25 year old level. Is that a deal breaker?” The woman replied with an amused emoji and continued joking about visiting Waffle House after they had known one another longer.
Hickerson later allegedly told her that she was “just as adorable” as she had been when they met and asked where she was from. He also admitted that he had been “ten vodka sodas deep” and mistakenly believed she had said she was from Alabama. She clarified that she was from Greenville, where Hickerson said he had also grown up.
The Woman Eventually ‘Lost Interest’
The woman told Page Six she eventually stopped corresponding with Hickerson because she had “lost interest” due to their age difference and her inability to remember their initial meeting. Hickerson allegedly continued sending messages on April 2 and April 4 without receiving a response. “I’m gonna be out of town for work till next Monday. So how about we shoot for halls mid week?” he reportedly wrote.
He also allegedly responded to an Instagram Stories in which the woman invited anyone without Easter Sunday plans to join her at church. “Goodness you must be reading my mind haha I was gonna skip tomorrow because it was just me. Where do you go?” Hickerson reportedly asked.
His final alleged message arrived on April 14. “Hey hey, I’m back in town this week. When am I taking you to hall’s?” he wrote, according to the outlet.
The woman said she did not reply.
She Learned About Hickerson’s Identity After Hayden Panettiere’s Death
The woman claimed she did not think about the exchange again until Panettiere’s death brought Hickerson’s name into the news. “I vaguely remembered the name and began looking through my direct messages,” she told Page Six. “The possibility that I had unknowingly become connected to a high-profile relationship, especially in these unfortunate circumstances, was beyond my comprehension.”
She said Hickerson never mentioned Panettiere or explained the nature of their relationship. The woman also claimed she did not learn about his previous domestic abuse convictions connected to Panettiere until after the actress died.
