Hayden Panettiere graces the cover of
Seventeen magazine this month, looking cute as a button in a lavender frock. But inside, she gets deep with an interview that touches upon her father’s domestic violence arrest last year.
As you may recall, Hayden’s dad lan Alan was charged with misdemeanor battery in September 2008 after allegedly hitting wife Lesley in the cheek, leaving a visible bruise. He later called the incident a "big misunderstanding."
Hayden tells
Seventeen, "I don't know that I dealt with it any specific way. I mean, it's hard enough going through it personally within your family, let alone when the entire world knows about it."
Hayden also says she feels bad for the way her father is perceived now. She says, "It put my dad in this light that is so not him. You know your mind goes to: 'He abuses, he beats his wife.' For my dad to have that reputation now -- which is so not who he is -- kills me."
Hayden says that she can handle the media saying things about her, but draws the line when they attack her family. She says, "I know that I'm strong enough to deal. I'm less concerned about myself. But when it involves my family or people I care about, I mean, I'll fly off the handle for my family.”
As for her life in general? Hayden is enjoying life as a single girl. She says, "Right now, I'm just enjoying having fun. It's when your not looking for anything that something winds up coming along, whether it's a best friend or a guy."
For the full article, pick up a copy of Seventeen on newsstands now.
