Neutrogena Apologizes After Hayden Panettiere Death Sparks Boycott

Fans of actress Hayden Panettiere called for a boycott of Neutrogena following her death on August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. The backlash centered on claims Panettiere made in her memoir and a podcast interview that the skincare brand attempted to fire her in 2015 using a "morality clause" after she spoke publicly about her struggles with postpartum depression.

Shares of Neutrogena's parent company, Kenvue Inc., fell 2.14% on August 17 amid the social media campaign. Kenvue is currently pending acquisition by Kimberly-Clark, a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

On Thursday, Neutrogena issued a public apology via Instagram, acknowledging it "made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time" and stating the past treatment does not reflect the company's values. While the brand did not address the specific legality of the contract termination, it praised Panettiere's courage and pledged a significant investment in a community health partner to improve women's access to postpartum depression care. Panettiere had served as a brand ambassador for the company from 2005 to 2015.