Hayden Panettiere's ex Brian Hickerson shared a chilling story from their tumultuous relationship as he admitted he was abusive towards the star.
The Nashville actress, 36, and Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was plagued by domestic violence incidents and arrests.
Hickerson talked about their troubled romance and Panettiere's upcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in a video interview with TMZ on Tuesday.
The actor - who was pictured with Panettiere in March - revealed that there was one particular incident he wanted her to leave out of the book, but she ended up keeping it in.
'There's a story where I was drunk, right? Hayden was standing across the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, "Hayden I'll give you 10 seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you,"' he recalled.
'Who wants to read something about themselves like that, right?' he asked, before adding, 'I did it. I did it.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to Panettiere's representative for comment.
Hayden Panettiere's ex Brian Hickerson shared a chilling story from their tumultuous relationship as he admitted he was abusive towards the star, 36; The two seen in 2018
'There's a story where I was drunk, right? Hayden was standing across the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, "Hayden I'll give you 10 seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you,"' he recalled in an interview with TMZ; Seen in an Instagram photo
'I went into such a dark place, man, drugs, alcohol,' he recalled of their relationship. 'Good God, almighty, she's five foot two on paper, four foot 11 in real life. I mean, come on.'
'Terrible thing I did to her,' he added.
Hickerson also said that he thinks alleged abusers are the ones who need to hear stories like his the most.
'My biggest thing about domestic violence is, I don't think it is taught early enough in life. Never in my life did I ever get taught what domestic violence was. Maybe if I did, at an early age, maybe I wouldn't have done what I did.'
After he was asked what he thought about Panettiere characterizing their relationship as 'abusive' and 'traumatic' Hickerson said, 'I think it speaks for itself. I mean, I got arrested for, you know, abusing her.'
As for Panettiere's claim that she chose not to share certain details of what happened between them with her friends out of embarrassment, he said, 'I wouldn't blame her friends for being pissed off at me.'
Hickerson said he's had a 'couple of opportunities to apologize' to his ex, adding, 'You never lay hands on a woman. Bottom line.'
He also spoke about an incident that took place in 2020 when he was arrested on Valentine's Day for allegedly punching her.
'Terrible thing I did to her,' he later added, sharing that he wanted the story kept out of her book, but that the actress chose to leave it in; The two seen in 2019
The Nashville star and Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was plagued by domestic violence incidents and arrests; He is seen in a 2020 mugshot
Hickerson also praised Panettiere's ex-fiance and baby daddy, Wladimir Klitschko, 50, calling him a 'good dude', but admitted he would prefer not to meet the former heavyweight boxer in person, describing him as 'a very big man'; Panettiere and Klitschko seen in 2013
Elsewhere in the interview he slammed Panettiere's estranged mom, Lesley Vogel, calling her 'one of the worst people I've ever met in my life'; Panettiere seen with her mother and late brother Jansen in 2019
Speaking about the toxic relationship with Hickerson the star recently told Us Weekly, 'It's a very embarrassing subject... The idea that I could allow something like this to happen to me blew my mind'; She is seen in 2022
'I had a lot to drink, and I got physical with her, and I got arrested, spent the night in jail. That's just what happens when you lay hands on women,' he said.
As for where their relationship stands now, he said they have 'mutual respect' for each other and that she will always 'have a special place in my heart' adding, 'we're good buddies.'
Hickerson admitted he sometimes thinks about marrying Panettiere in the future, stating he misses her 'every day' and that she is 'the sweetest thing in the world.'
'I think that Hayden is one of the most talented people I've ever met in my life. I would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career.'
Hickerson also praised Panettiere's ex-fiance and baby daddy, Wladimir Klitschko, 50, calling him a 'good dude', but admitted he would prefer not to meet the former heavyweight boxer in person, describing him as 'a very big man.'
He later slammed Panettiere's estranged mom, Lesley Vogel, calling her 'one of the worst people I've ever met in my life', though he did not give any further details.
Hickerson added that he has been working on bettering himself and credited actor Shia LaBeouf for 'saving' his life, revealing that LaBeouf leads an AA group he attends and introduced him to his sponsor.
Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in county jail after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend back in April 2021.
Panettiere's memoir also details her battles with addiction and postpartum depression. This Is Me: A Reckoning, will be released on May 19
He got four years of probation, was ordered to attend 52 domestic violence classes, and received a five-year restraining order requiring him to stay away from Panettiere.
Speaking about the relationship and her memoir, the actress recently told Us Weekly, 'It's a very embarrassing subject. I've always seen myself as such a resilient and strong woman.'
'The idea that I could allow something like this to happen to me blew my mind. It blew the minds of the people that knew me best.'
Panettiere's memoir also details her battles with addiction and postpartum depression. This Is Me: A Reckoning will be released on May 19.