Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere‘s on-and-off boyfriend, got himself involved in an alleged bar altercation. According to TMZ, he was handcuffed by the Greenville Police Department following the incident. In a video circulating on social media, he can be seen yelling at the police about his girlfriend’s death. Hickerson allegedly accused the authorities of leaking information following the late actress’s death.
The incident happened on the evening of Saturday, September 12, at Wild Wing Cafe in Greenville, South Carolina. A video obtained by TMZ showed him being carried out of the restaurant before getting handcuffed outside.
Why Was Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend Detained by Police?
Brian Hickerson | Credit: Instagram/@BrianHickerson
A source told TMZ that Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were having drinks at the establishment when the incident occurred. The pair were there for hours, occupying a table in the back of the saloon. Brian allegedly got himself involved in a heated argument with someone at the bar. The insider source claimed that he picked up a bar stool and threw it backwards.
Greenville Police Department told the outlet that they were called to the scene following a report of an “assault.” A video obtained by TMZ showed Brian being carried out of the establishment by someone, as the argument continued. In the same video, a bartender can be seen yelling, “Let him go!”
He was handcuffed by the police outside the restaurant. A viral social media video showed him sitting on a curb outside the establishment. At one point, he is heard accusing the authorities of leaking information about Panettiere’s death. He can be heard shouting at officers,
GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died.
The Greenville PD told TMZ that Brian was ultimately not arrested and was released afterwards. However, his brother, Zach, was allegedly highly intoxicated. He was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and was brought to jail.
🚨BREAKING / UPDATE: Newly surfaced footage shows Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, apparently being detained last night.In the video, Hickerson can be heard shouting: “GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died!” referencing the Greenville Police Department, which is… pic.twitter.com/1wbrnwHrsz— Amy Leigh (@IAmyLeigh) September 13, 2026
Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson’s Relationship Timeline
Hayden Panettiere in Scream VI | Credit: Paramount Pictures
Hayden Panettiere began dating Brian Hickerson in the summer of 2018 following her split from then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. However, their relationship was anything but smooth. Hickerson faced multiple domestic violence allegations involving the Ice Princess star. In 2021, he ultimately pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend.
In 2020, Panettiere herself spoke up about the alleged abuse. In a statement to Good Morning America, she said that she was coming forward to help others in abusive relationships. In 2022, she reportedly split from Hickerson. Later, the pair connected again and reportedly remained friends. However, an insider told PEOPLE that they were back together at the time of Panettiere’s death.
Panettiere’s final film, Sleepwalker, was released on January 9, 2026.
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