Overview
- Panettiere’s family announced her death on Aug. 16, and multiple outlets have corroborated the report while noting that no official cause has been made public.
- Square Enix posted a condolence statement praising Panettiere’s Kairi performance as “unforgettable” and offered sympathies to her family and loved ones.
- One day before her death, D23 in Anaheim featured a live reading of the Kingdom Hearts II ending by Haley Joel Osment and David Gallagher, a performance fans later viewed as especially poignant.
- Alyson Stoner, who later took on the role of Kairi, posted an emotional tribute calling Panettiere’s passing a “tremendous loss” and asked for grace while she processed the news.
- D23 also confirmed ongoing Kingdom Hearts projects, including a Kingdom Hearts IV launch planned for late 2027 with a Coco-based world and multi-platform release, meaning franchise promotion and production continue alongside the outpouring of tributes.