Hayden's Family & Friends 'Disturbed' By New Photos Of Star Holding Hands With Alleged Abuser Boyfriend's Brother
Sept. 12 2019, Updated 12:12 p.m. ET
Friends and family are "disturbed" after Hayden Panettiere was caught holding hands with her alleged abuser boyfriend's brother, sources reveal exclusively to RadarOnline.com.
"It’s a very strange set of circumstances," the insider said of the Nashville star's rumored new fling with Brian Hickerson's brother Zach.
Panettiere, 30 — who as RadarOnline.com first reported exclusively, is now living in New York City — showed PDA with the South Carolina-based pastor downtown in the Big Apple on September 4, in exclusive photos revealed by In Touch.
"I don’t know if it’s better than the alternative," said the concerned pal. "How strange it may be, the one positive thing about this is Zach is certainly not the violent temper that Brian is."
Despite her family's concerns, Panettiere appeared carefree as she strolled with Brian's brother. “They were walking hand-in-hand, talking and laughing together,” an eyewitness told In Touch.
“She was jumping up and down making funny faces, and he was flexing his muscles and laughing. They looked happy together.”
Sources reveal to RadarOnline.com the unlikely couple have "been involved for two months now."
As RadarOnline.com readers know, the actress' bad new beau Brian faces a felony domestic violence charge for allegedly beating his famous girlfriend in a May 2 incident.
A responding officer testified Hayden suffered bruises on her arms and eyelids, and swelling on her face.
On May 23, a Los Angeles County judge issued a protective order against Brian, preventing him from coming within 100 yards of the actress.
The new pairing isn't sitting well with her loved ones. "Those close to Hayden are not going to pretend to understand it or condone it," but "there’s nothing anyone can do," said the informant.
"She has been reluctant to talk about it because she knows how people feel — it’s definitely something she would not want to discuss. And she doesn’t want to share too much especially because of what’s going on with Brian and his legal issues."
With high-powered attorney Shawn Holley by Brian's side, a jury trial begins in Los Angeles court on September 24.
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