Why Hayden Panettiere Waited Until 36 to Publicly Come Out as Bisexual

For many millennials, Hayden Panettiere was everywhere in the 2000s.

She was the sharp-tongued cheerleader, the girl-next-door crush, the teen movie icon with effortless charisma and enough screen presence to dominate an entire era of television and film. From Bring It On: All or Nothing to Heroes and I Love You, Beth Cooper, Panettiere became one of the defining faces of early 2000s pop culture.

Now, the actress is opening up in a much more personal way.

In her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere publicly comes out as bisexual for the first time, sharing that it took years before she felt comfortable saying it openly.

And honestly? Her story will probably resonate with more people than she realizes.

“Yes, I Am Bisexual.”

Photo Credit: @haydenpanettiere

Speaking with Us Weekly about the memoir, Panettiere explained that writing the book allowed her to become “completely brutally honest” about parts of her life she had struggled to articulate before.

One of those truths was her sexuality.

“Yes, I am bisexual,” she said matter of factly.

Panettiere also admitted it felt “sad” that she waited until age 36 to publicly share that part of herself, though she added, “better late than never.”

It’s a simple statement, but for many LGBTQ+ people—especially bisexual people who grew up in the 2000s—it carries a lot of weight.

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Growing Up in an Era That Didn’t Always Understand Bisexuality

Panettiere shared that she had experienced attraction to women since childhood, but being a child actress complicated things.

“No one ever encouraged me to just be myself,” she explained.

Photo Credit: @haydenpanettiere

She also reflected on how bisexuality, particularly for women in Hollywood during that era, was often dismissed as a “fad” rather than taken seriously.

“There was always the fear of not being perfect,” she said, adding that she worried about how her team and the public would react if she came out.

That fear is something many bisexual people know intimately. For years, bisexuality was often trivialized in entertainment media—treated as performative, trendy, or temporary rather than valid and deeply personal.

So hearing someone like Hayden Panettiere speak honestly about that pressure feels important, especially for people who grew up watching her.

since Hayden Panettiere came out as bisexual, let’s ask Hollywood Records to release her shelved album 😭 WAKE UPPPPPpic.twitter.com/X8Z5wc9bon

— y2k (@y2kpopart) May 6, 2026

A Different Kind of Comeback

In recent years, Panettiere has largely stayed away from the intense celebrity spotlight that followed her through the 2000s. Instead, she’s focused more quietly on acting and producing, including her work on the psychological thriller Sleepwalker.

But This Is Me: A Reckoning feels like more than just a celebrity memoir. It reads as someone reclaiming parts of herself after years spent trying to meet impossible expectations.

And maybe that’s why her coming out feels so meaningful.

Not because she owes anyone labels or explanations—but because there’s something powerful about seeing a former teen idol openly choose honesty over perfection.

“Better Late Than Never” Still Matters

There’s often this misconception that coming out only “counts” if it happens young.

But stories like Panettiere’s are reminders that people arrive at themselves in different ways and at different times. Sometimes it takes safety. Sometimes distance. Sometimes simply growing into a version of yourself that no longer wants to hide.

And for bisexual people especially, visibility still matters.

Hayden Panettiere spent years being one of the most recognizable faces of 2000s entertainment. Now she’s stepping into a new chapter—one where she’s allowing herself to be fully seen.

And honestly? That kind of authenticity looks good on her.

This is Me: A Reckoning is available starting May 12.