Joined by a shopping buddy, Hayden Panettiere enjoyed an afternoon of retail therapy at Saks Fifth Ave in Beverly Hills yesterday (July 1). Upon her departure, the I Love You Beth Cooper actress could be seen wisely tucking her hand behind her leg as she entered her car as to avoid having any uncomplimentary photos taken.

Meanwhile, Hayden says she’s still coming to terms with reports of domsestic violence in her family.

As you may recall, Alan Panettiere was arrested and charged with misdemeanour battery last year after a scuffle with his wife at a party — but Hayden insists it was all a big misunderstanding.

She tells Seventeen magazine, “It’s hard enough going through it personally within your family, let alone when the entire world knows about it.”

Alan allegedly left a bruise on his wife Lesley Vogel’s cheek. His famous daughter adds, “It put my dad in this light that is so not him… Your mind goes to: ‘He abuses, he beats his wife.’ For my dad to have that reputation now, which is so not who he is, kills me. I’m less concerned about myself, but when it involves my family or people I care about, I mean, I’ll fly off the handle for my family.”