Romano Highlights Industry Accountability Following Panettiere’s Death
Actress Lizzy Romano has called attention to the lack of accountability among adults in the entertainment industry following the death of her former colleague, Hayden Panettiere. Romano criticized the cycle of blame that surrounds child performers, stating, “Stage parents blame producers, producers blame parents, networks blame culture, and culture then blames the child when the child becomes an adult in pain. By then, the young performer is no longer cute enough to protect. They are a cautionary tale. A headline.”
Romano’s comments come in the wake of Panettiere’s tragic passing on August 16, when the actress was found in cardiac arrest at her South Carolina home. Panettiere, who started her acting career at just 11 months old and secured her first major role in One Life to Live at the age of 4, is remembered as a talented performer who faced immense challenges from a young age.
Romano emphasized the hidden struggles of former child performers, noting, “We need to stop assuming former child performers are fine because they look pretty, sound grateful, book a job, and smile on cue. Some of them are not unscathed. Some of them are simply still performing.”
For more tributes to Panettiere from fellow celebrities, keep reading.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Eonline
