Book seller Barnes & Noble is facing online criticism after being accused of attempting to profit from the death of New York actress Hayden Panettiere.
Hayden Panettiere’s memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning”, has drawn renewed interest following the actress’s death at age 36 on August 16, 2026. The book was released in May, just three months before her death. It offers a candid account of her childhood stardom, struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. 5his is in addition to abusive relationships, motherhood, and the pressures she experienced in Hollywood.
Her sudden passing has led fans and readers to take a renewed interest in the memoir. They see it as a firsthand account of her life and the challenges she faced behind the scenes. This brought additional attention to a book in which she openly shared her experiences and hoped her story could provide comfort to others.
The controversy surrounding Barnes & Noble came after Panettiere had previously promoted her memoir as part of the retailer’s Book Haul event. It offered the book at 50% off its original price. The promotional event is known to run from mid-August through early September. This means that the discounted price would have brought the memoir down from $30 to $15. However, shortly after Panettiere’s death, the book appeared to return to its full $30 price. This prompted some people online to accuse Barnes & Noble of attempting to profit from the renewed interest in her memoir.
Fans noticed that the retail bookstore chain was listing Panettiere’s New York Times and USA Today bestseller at its full $30 price on its website. This is despite the 50% discount she had previously promoted. The price difference led to allegations online that Barnes & Noble was attempting to profit from the situation.
Barnes & Noble Responding to Criticism
According to Newsweek, Barnes & Noble responded to reports about the memoir being removed from the promotion. They explained that the change was due to “soaring demand and dwindling inventory rather than a broader pricing decision.”
A Barnes & Noble spokesperson also told Newsweek, “Removing this book from the promotion was a solely stock-based decision. We are now trying to order more to meet the increased demand as there is (unfortunately) renewed interest and attention with little to no stock in most stores.”
The spokesperson also added, “It’s important to note we add and remove titles frequently throughout Book Haul, both centrally and on the individual store level, though this book in particular has a very clear reason for a magnifying glass.” Despite Barnes & Noble’s explanation, the retailer has continued to face significant backlash. People kept accusing the company of attempting to profit from Panettiere’s death.
Hayden Panettiere died suddenly at the age of 36 on August 16, 2026. She was reportedly found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency responders attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have said there were no signs of trauma. The official cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending further investigation and toxicology results.
Fans Slam Barnes & Nobles Over New York Actress’s Book Controversy
Fans quickly criticized Barnes & Noble after noticing that the retailer had listed New York actress Hayden Panettiere’s memoir at its original price following her death. Some accused the company of attempting to profit from the renewed attention surrounding the tragedy. “Genuinely how do they not feel shame doing this??” one person asked. Another commenter said, “Ugh profiting on this is just wrong on another level.”
More people continued criticizing Barnes & Noble, with some making serious allegations about the retailer’s motives. “When I first read it I thought it was a good thing, like more money would go to her family. But no of course they’re not doing it for a good reason, the greedy corporation is trying to profit off her death. Despicable,” one person wrote. Another commenter added, “Ew I can also confirm this. I made my cart of 50% of this weekend and had the memoir included as it’s been on my tbr for a while. It is in fact still in my cart full price now. The ghouls, I was hesitant to pick it up so soon after what happened and now I’m definitely not.”
The news surrounding the actress’s death and the return of her memoir to its original price sparked a broader conversation about how corporations respond when public figures pass away. It also led to discussions about the ethics of profiting from renewed interest in someone’s work following their death. Some people argued that businesses should consider the circumstances and sensitivities surrounding such situations. This is rather than appearing to capitalize on a tragedy.
