Neutrogena is facing a wave of online criticism following the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, with some fans calling for a boycott of the skincare brand over claims the actress previously made about their professional relationship.

Panettiere, who died at 36 on August 16, had worked with Neutrogena for years before their partnership ended in 2015.

In her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere described the end of the relationship as a painful moment in her life. She said the company ended her long-running contract after she publicly discussed her experience with postpartum depression.

Panettiere also discussed the experience during a podcast appearance, explaining how difficult it was to speak openly about her struggles while maintaining a career in the public eye.

Following news of her death, some fans revisited those comments and began directing criticism toward Neutrogena on social media.

“I will never buy one of their products again in my life,” one Reddit user wrote in a widely upvoted comment.

Other users echoed the sentiment, saying they planned to stop purchasing the brand’s products in response to Panettiere’s account.

Neutrogena’s social media pages also received a flood of comments from people referencing the actress and her previous statements about the company.

Online searches for terms related to a Neutrogena boycott reportedly surged following Panettiere’s death, although it remains unclear whether the social-media backlash will translate into a sustained change in consumer behavior.

The company has not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding Panettiere’s claims.

Meanwhile, Kenvue Inc., the company that owns Neutrogena along with brands including Tylenol, Band-Aid and Aveeno, saw its stock move lower earlier in the week. However, the decline was also linked to broader company sales figures, making it impossible to attribute the market movement specifically to the online backlash.

The controversy has renewed conversations about how celebrities are treated when they speak publicly about mental health and personal struggles.

Panettiere spent much of her later career speaking openly about postpartum depression, addiction and the challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry. Her willingness to discuss those experiences made her story resonate with many fans.

Now, after her death, those conversations have resurfaced — with supporters questioning whether companies should stand by public figures when they choose to speak honestly about difficult experiences.

For the moment, the Neutrogena boycott remains primarily an online movement. Whether it develops into a lasting consumer campaign remains to be seen.