When a celebrity grieves, the world often watches. But for Brooke Hogan, public eyes didn’t just watch her sadness for her father, Hulk Hogan. They judged it. Recent photos showed Brooke crying. Some people quickly accused her of seeking attention.
Brooke, who is 37 years old, fired back online. On Thursday, August 14, she used her Instagram Stories to express her frustration. “Yes, I just love being in the spotlight crying over my dead dad in a very private spot,” she wrote, clearly being sarcastic. She then added a strong, defiant gesture and told people to leave her alone. She continued, “Can’t I go to my own neighborhood to see the sunset and think about my dad? You all are SICK. I hope you get the karma you deserve.”
Hulk Hogan, the famous wrestling star, passed away in July at 71. He suffered cardiac arrest. Reports from Us Weekly confirmed his death. Doctors determined the cause was an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
Hulk left behind his wife, Sky Daily. He also had two children and two grandchildren. Brooke and her brother, Nick Hogan, are Hulk’s children with his ex-wife, Linda Hogan. Linda, 65, and Nick, 35, both went to Hulk’s funeral earlier in the month. However, Brooke decided not to attend the service. She has twins, Oliver and Molly, with her husband, Steven Oleksy.
Brooke explained her choice not to go to the memorial. She wrote on Instagram on August 5 that her father truly disliked the sad nature of funerals. “He didn’t want one,” she shared. She noted that people grieve in many ways. She was thankful for all the ways others honored her dad. But as his daughter, she had to choose her own path. She wanted to honor him privately, in a way that felt real to her. “Daddy, we honored you simply,” she wrote. “It felt good to my soul. We took our children to the beach. We let them play in the same salty waters you loved so much.”
She ended her message with heartfelt words. “We love you and honor what made you special,” Brooke shared. “Every grain of sand and every wave reminded me to be your beach baby. It brought us closer to you. I pray you are at peace. I pray you know how much I love you.”
Brooke and Hulk had been distant in the years before his death. Now, Brooke prefers a quiet life. She stays out of the public eye with her husband and kids. She spoke with Us Weekly in June about her life journey. “Like anyone’s life, it takes unexpected turns,” she said. She shared that her twenties felt lost to trauma and constant filming. She couldn’t truly enjoy that time. “I felt like I had to grow up fast,” she explained. “I had to be on TV and work. Those filming hours are very long.”