Hayden Panettiere canceled a scheduled weekend appearance at a horror convention at the last minute because of a private family emergency.
People reported that the Scream actress, 36, was set to appear at Creep I.E. Aftermath in Ontario, California, on July 11 and July 12. AOL also carried the report about the last-minute cancellation.
Panettiere has not publicly addressed the absence herself.
Her Rep Said It Was a Private Family Matter
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(@creepiecon)Panettiere’s representative told People that the actress canceled because of “a private family matter concerning the health of an elderly relative.”
The official Creep I.E. Con Instagram account first announced the change on Friday, July 10. The event said Panettiere would not be able to attend that weekend and added that organizers looked forward to having her appear at a future show.
The Event Had Teased a Rare Scream 4 Reunion
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Panettiere’s scheduled appearance had been promoted as a rare Scream 4 reunion. She was set to appear at the horror event alongside her Scream 4 costar Nico Tortorella.
The actress is closely tied to the horror world through her role as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise. TMZ noted that she debuted as Kirby in 2011’s Scream 4 and later reprised the fan-favorite role in Scream VI.
She also starred in the 2015 horror video game Until Dawn, giving the convention appearance extra appeal for horror fans.
Dominique Swain Was Added After the Cancellation
People reported that the convention later announced a new guest in Panettiere’s place. Dominique Swain, known for Lolita and Face/Off, was added to the roster after the update.
The convention’s website also noted that Tori Spelling canceled, while several other guests, including Christina Ricci, John Carroll Lynch and Carel Struycken, rescheduled for later dates.
TMZ reported that both Panettiere and Spelling canceled their appearances on Friday, with organizers citing an emergency for each cancellation.
