Is there EVER a time when it’s appropriate for an estranged parent to make a public statement about their child’s passing? Because Holly Robinson Peete is here to tell you absolutely NOT, honey.
The legendary talk show host threw her support behind none other than Gayle King after CBS’s morning show maven called out Lesley Vogel—yes, Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mother—for her deeply questionable statement following the actress’s death. And let’s just say, Holly wasn’t mincing words. “She’s not wrong,” Peete posted on X Wednesday with the kind of energy that only comes from someone who’s watched enough Hollywood drama to write a dissertation on it.
Here’s where it gets JUICY: Apparently Lesley Vogel decided that now—during the immediate aftermath of her daughter’s passing—was THE perfect time to release a public statement. Bold choice, Lesley. Absolutely bold. Gayle King, never one to hold back when something smells fishier than a week-old sushi roll, called out the timing and tone of Vogel’s remarks, essentially saying “girl, NOT the time.” And honestly? She had every right to.
Holly Robinson Peete, who has been in this industry longer than some of these celebrities have been alive, knows a thing or two about what’s appropriate and what’s absolutely tone-deaf. By backing Gayle’s criticism, she’s essentially cosigning what millions of people were already thinking: that some things don’t need a public relations spin, and some moments demand grace, not a carefully crafted statement.
The internet, of course, absolutely ERUPTED. Fans were quick to flood social media with their own takes, and let’s just say the majority of people were team Gayle all the way. Because there’s a difference between grieving publicly and using tragedy as a platform—and apparently, some people still don’t understand that distinction.
What makes this situation even messier is the fact that Hayden had been estranged from her mother for years. So the optics of Lesley suddenly inserting herself into the narrative? Chef’s kiss levels of awkward. Holly Robinson Peete clearly saw right through it, and honestly, we’re here for celebrities who actually call out the BS.
The lesson here, darling? Sometimes silence really IS golden. But we wouldn’t expect everyone to figure that out.
What do you think? A) Holly and Gayle were right to call out Lesley Vogel B) The criticism was too harsh and Lesley deserved compassion