Hayden Panettiere Facing Backlash For Amanda Knox Role

Hayden Panettiere is taking on the role of convicted killer Amanda Knox in Lifetime’s upcoming movie Via Della Rosa and has made the victim’s family angry with her seemingly casual comments.

The story of British student Meredith Kercher’s slaying in Perugia, Italy on November 1, 2007 made international headlines, in part because of the truly terrible way Kercher died but also because of Knox’s demeanor at trial.Knox often smiled and appeared to almost relish the attention, which upset many people including the Kercher family of course. Panettiere, isn’t helping matters by saying:

The actress said: “She [Knox] went through so much and the emotional aspects of it – the fact she could even sit there and try to keep herself as sane as possible.

“You can’t, you know, point a finger at them for doing that.”

The actress said she watched hours of footage of Knox in court to study the way she held herself and spoke.

She explained: “She really tried to be as stoic and as brave as she could against all odds and I do commend her for it.”

Panettiere chalks up Knox’s odd moments of smiles and laughter during her trial as “bad advice” from her lawyers but that doesn’t wash with the victim’s family.

Read what Kercher’s family has to say below.

John Kercher, Meredith’s father said:

“I didn’t realise they were going to go so far with it. It just seems ridiculous – I don’t see how they can go that far when nobody has ever known exactly what happened.

“I think they are treading a very dangerous line.

“It’s a bit unnerving when you have the lead actress Hayden Panettiere describing it as a ‘riveting story’.”

Panettiere also describes screaming with delight when she landed the role, Knox’s bravery, that Amanda was “not a malicious girl” and a number of truly insensitive statements for the family to have to contend with.

It’s one thing for the Heroes actress to want a part that she considers challenging, but it’s another thing to forget that real people have been affected by this murder and her choice of words carry an emotional toll for Kercher’s loved ones.

The movie is set to air on Lifetime February 21st even with objections from Kercher’s family.