The late Hayden Panettiere took measures to keep her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson away from a promotional event earlier this year, according to a new report.Prior to her appearance this past May to promote This Is Me: A Reckoning at a Manhattan Barnes & Noble, the Heroes star gave ‘specific instruction’ to the store, telling them not to let Hickerson on the premises, according to a report from The New York Times on Sunday.Panettiere had private security guards with her on hand at the appearance, two sources with ‘direct knowledge of the tour’ told the paper.The latest reveal comes a week after Panettiere died August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina in what officials said was suspected as a drug ‘overdose.’The Daily Mail has reached out to attorneys for Hickerson for further comment on the story.On Thursday, Hickerson’s lawyer Sloan Ellis said in a statement obtained by The Daily Mail, ‘Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. The late Hayden Panettiere reportedly took measures to keep her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson away from a promotional event earlier this year, according to a new report. Hickerson and Panettiere pictured in 2018 in LA Panettiere had private security guards with her on hand at the appearance, two sources with ‘direct knowledge of the tour’ told the paper.’As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play,’ Ellis said. ‘Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.’Hickerson and Panettiere, who had been linked since 2018, had a stormy history in which he had been convicted of domestic abuse in connection with their relationship. Hickerson in April of 2021 entered pleas of no contest to a pair of felony counts of domestic abuse in an agreement after he was initially charged with eight counts of domestic violence – including assault with a deadly weapon, battery and corporal injury – in Los Angeles in July of 2020.He received a 45-day jail sentence and probation for four years from the court, which ordered him to complete classes on domestic violence following the pleas of no contest.The other charges were subsequently dropped following the pleas, and Panettiere had been issued a protective order spanning five years, which had expired earlier this year.Panettiere put out a statement in 2020 saying she hoped she could serve as an example for others in a similar situation.’I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me,’ she said, ‘in the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve.’ Panettiere had been declared deceased August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina in what officials said was suspected as a drug ‘overdose’ Pictured 2022 Hickerson and Panettiere, who had been linked since 2018, had a stormy history in which he had been convicted of domestic abuse in connection with their relationship.Pictured in LA in 2019 Panettiere in her memoir said she had not wanted ‘to be a spokesperson for domestic violence,’ adding, ‘I never wanted to call myself a victim, but here I am.’She said in the book: ‘It’s part of my story whether I want it to be or not. So, I’ll lay it all out here: seven years of mental illness, addiction, rage, abuse and pain in just a few pages.’You never forget the first time someone slaps you nor do you forget the last … the slaps become hits.’This past May, Hickerson spoke with TMZ about past instances of domestic violence and abuse in his relationship with the actress, which she detailed in her memoir. ‘I got arrested for abusing her, and I wouldn’t blame her friends for being pissed off with me, so I don’t really have much to say on that,’ said Hickerson, who was first linked to the late actress in 2018. ‘You never lay hands on a woman, bottom line.’Hickerson detailed a horrifying story that Panettiere wrote about in her memoir.He said, ‘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.”‘ Hickerson continued, ‘Who wants to read something about themselves, right? But you gotta be vulnerable and I did it. I did it, so.’He said he was in ‘such a dark place’ involving ‘drugs’ and ‘alcohol,’ adding, ‘Good God, almighty, she’s five foot two on paper, four-foot-11 in real life. I mean, come on.’ The late actress was pictured promoting This Is Me: A Reckoning at a Manhattan Barnes & Noble, where sources said she instructed the venue to keep Hickerson away Join the discussionWhat more can be done to protect victims of abuse when legal protections expire?What’s your view?Panettiere’s passing was announced August 16 by her father Skip, who said in a statement: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.’She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.’Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina said that officials responded to an apartment in the area on August 16 after receiving a report of an ‘unresponsive female’ via a possible ‘drug overdose,’ subsequently determined to be Panettiere.Officials, who attempted lifesaving measures prior to declaring the actress deceased, said that no signs of trauma or foul play were evident in their probe into Panettiere’s death, which remains ongoing.