Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan’s recent passing has brought his daughter, Brooke Hogan, into the spotlight. The 37-year-old artist chose to break her silence on social media. She shared a heartfelt message about her father and their often-complicated connection.
Brooke posted on Instagram this past Tuesday, July 29, expressing deep sorrow. "My dad’s blood flows in my veins," she wrote. "His eyes sparkle through my children." She added that their bond never broke, even in his final moments. "We shared a connection deeper than words," Brooke explained. She felt it was a bond that spanned many lifetimes.
Brooke felt a deep personal loss when her dad passed. "When he left this earth," she wrote, "I felt a part of my spirit go with him." She even sensed it, she said, before the news officially reached her. Brooke wanted to set the record straight because the story of their relationship had become tangled. She felt a need to "clear some things up."
Years ago, Brooke and her husband, Steve Oleksy, moved to Florida. They wanted to be closer to Hulk. But then, Brooke said, her dad suddenly "didn’t want me in the surgeries." She described it as a "thick veil" covering everything. "It was like there was a force field around him I couldn’t get through," she explained.
Brooke shared that she had to step away in the last two years. She needed to "protect my heart." She wrote that all she ever wanted from her father was "love, honesty, and a deep connection." She cherished the special years when she had that, creating memories that will last her a lifetime. "My world changed forever," she shared. Despite the pain, Brooke feels lucky to have a loving husband and two beautiful children. They remind her daily of life’s greatest gifts. She concluded her message by thanking fans and friends for their tributes and love. "His life was worth celebrating," she stated, "and it always will be."
Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, passed away on Thursday, July 24, at 71 years old. A family member confirmed his death to Us Weekly. The Clearwater, Florida Police Department reported that Hogan suffered cardiac arrest at his home. He was taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead.
Brooke is the daughter of Hulk and Linda Hogan. They also have a son, Nick Hogan. The family became household names through their VH1 reality show, Hogan Knows Best. It aired from 2005 to 2007. Brooke later starred in her own VH1 spin-off, Brooke Knows Best, which ran from 2008 to 2009.
Before Hulk’s death, Brooke had lost contact with both of her parents. Their family disagreements often played out publicly on social media. In March, Linda, 65, shared a video on Instagram. "Brooke doesn’t talk to us," Linda said. "She had twins. She got married and didn’t tell us."
Brooke married former NHL player Steve Oleksy in 2022. The couple welcomed their twins, Oliver and Molly, in January. A source told Us Weekly in March that Hulk "doesn’t specifically know why Brooke doesn’t talk to him."
Brooke gave her side of the story in a detailed Instagram post in March. "Not having contact with my mom has nothing to do with my dad," Brooke wrote. "And not having contact with my father has nothing to do with my mother." She explained that her decision was based solely on how each parent had treated her throughout her life. "I’ve reached out many times to help them," she continued. "But they just dragged me into darkness." Brooke said she set boundaries that were not respected. "At this point," she concluded, "I really can’t do any more."
An insider close to the Hogan family told Us in April that Steve Oleksy, 39, had tried for "years" to bring Hulk and Brooke closer. "Unfortunately, that was never in the cards," the source revealed. The insider described the pain in the Hogan family as "very, very strong" for Brooke. "Brooke tries to get further and further away from disappointment again and again," the source added.