Hayden Panettiere‘s rep is encouraging anyone with helpful information into the sudden death of her former client, who died on Aug. 16 at age 36, to reach out to law enforcement instead of speaking out in the media.
“Many people who were not close to Hayden are using her death as an opportunity to fuel gossip and speculation about a situation they knew very little about,” says a statement from her rep to The Hollywood Reporter. “It is deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those who knew and loved her and are actively grieving this tremendous loss.”
Amid an active investigation by both local and federal authorities into the circumstances around Panettiere’s death, her rep says there is “much more to this story” and to let the police do their job.
“If you have legitimate information that could be helpful, please contact law enforcement rather than turning to social media to speculate publicly about something you do not fully understand,” the statement continues. “There is much more to this story than what is currently being discussed publicly, and those closest to Hayden are actively cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure that the truth comes to light and that justice is properly served.”
