Hayden Panettiere revealed how she met ex partner Wladimir Klitschko, as he pays tribute to her

Hayden Panettiere once had the perfect story for how she met her former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, and it involved one very obvious observation about their height difference.

Following the tragic death of the Heroes actress, Wladimir has shared an emotional tribute to Hayden, who he described as an important part of his life and the mother of their daughter, Kaya. Before their relationship, engagement and eventual split, the pair had a rather memorable first encounter.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Klitschko (@klitschko)

Hayden spoke about meeting the heavyweight boxer during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she joked about the fact she was considerably smaller than her future fiancé.

“I know that I’m small, but he’s large! That’s how we met,” she joked.

Hayden was 5’2″, while Wladimir stood at 6’6″, and she recalled looking up at him and saying:“You’re huge!”

She then mimicked Wladimir leaning down towards her and replying: “You’re tiny.”

The pair reportedly first met at a party hosted by a mutual friend in 2009, although they didn’t begin dating until the following year.

At the time, Hayden was 18 and in a relationship with her Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia. She and Wladimir eventually became a couple, with Hayden regularly attending his boxing matches while he appeared at events supporting her Hollywood career.

Their relationship came to an end in 2011, with their long-distance situation reportedly making things difficult as Wladimir spent a lot of time in Ukraine.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Klitschko (@klitschko)

However, the pair rekindled their romance two years later and became engaged in October 2013. In December 2014, they welcomed their daughter, Kaya.

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Hayden and Wladimir eventually split for good in 2018. Around this time, Hayden was open about her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction, and Kaya went to live with Wladimir in Ukraine.

Following Hayden’s death, Wladimir has now paid tribute to his former fiancée, describing the family’s grief as “profound”.

“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” he wrote. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.

“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”

Wladimir also made a promise to their daughter, saying: “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Klitschko (@klitschko)

He continued: “I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.

“I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say.”

He ended his tribute by thanking those who had offered their support to the family.

“Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences. Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden.”

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Featured image via Instagram