Hayden Panettiere addresses ‘abandoning’ daughter custody: More details

Hayden Panettiere is breaking her silence on her 11-year-old daughter’s custody decision and revealing the reality behind it.

In her latest appearance, the 36-year-old actress expressed that it is “heartbreaking” for people to believe she would just give up her child.

Speaking on the On Purpose podcast, she addressed misconceptions about her treatment history and recovery journey.

She stated, "The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking, misconception is that I have been in the past forced into treatment when, in fact, I have been the one who sought it out."

She continued, "It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression, anxiety, alcoholism and substance abuse—and me just trying to find my way out of this darkness."

Moreover, she told the host, "By the time I finally got healthy I felt like it would have been unfair of me to and selfish of me to try to pull her out away from this life that that she had."

Additionally, she mentioned that her little one is doing well and being brought up in a balanced, nurturing environment.

RELATED: Hayden Panettiere reveals shocking boat incident at age 18