An automotive seat assembly 10 is provided, including a primary seat structure 12 having a seatbase portion 14 and a seatback portion 16. The present invention further includes a headrest support assembly 26 including an upper headrest support section 28 and a lower headrest support section 30 rotatable about a headrest pivot point 34 positioned between the upper headrest support section 28 and the lower headrest support section 30. An energy absorbing deformable plate 40 is mounted to the lower headrest support section 30 at an upper plate end 42 and is mounted to the primary seat structure 12 at a lower plate end 44. The energy absorbing deformable plate 40 is deformable rearwards 43 during a rear-end collision. As the energy absorbing deformable plate 40 deforms rearward, the upper plate end 42 moves the lower headrest support section 30 rearward and the upper headrest support section 28 is thereby rotated forward.