Brooke Hogan took preemptive measures to distance herself from her father, Hulk Hogan, before his death.
In the wake of their estrangement, Brooke, 37, removed her name from Hulk’s will in 2023.
Brooke’s husband, former NHL player Steve Oleksy, exclusively told Us Weekly what led to Brooke making the financial decision.
“I believe my wife upheld her Dad’s best interests even after his death, mustering up all the courage and kindness she could despite still being very hurt,” Oleksy, 39, said. “That money does not represent accomplishments in the ring — the majority of it came at the expense of my wife’s dignity. It was built on hurtful comments about her and her past relationship, which caused pain not only to her, but to many other families.”
Oleksy specifically referenced the comments Hulk made about a former boyfriend of Brooke’s in audio that was leaked from Hulk’s sex tape in 2012, when he allegedly used the N-word multiple times and called himself “racist, to a point.”
Hulk filed a lawsuit against website Gawker in 2013 for posting portions of the sex tape. In 2016, Hulk received a $31 million settlement.
“While one life was positively changed forever from a financial standpoint, the true victims never received a direct apology — and, despite the life-altering embarrassment, they never received or asked for a single dollar in compensation,” Oleksy told Us. “My wife was put in a position to defend someone without knowing the full truth — unaware the remarks were tied to a sex tape and that the context and use of the derogatory language was directed at her and her ex, and conveniently misinformed of the transcripts.”
Oleksy added, “These are the realities we live with every day. No amount of money can erase that pain or restore what was taken.”
Brooke and Oleksy got married in June 2022 and welcomed twins, Oliver and Molly, in January.
Brooke broke her silence about Hulk’s death on Tuesday, July 29, explaining why their relationship had fallen apart in recent years.
“We never had a ‘big fight,’” Brooke shared via Instagram. “My father and I never ‘fought.’ It was a series of phone calls no one will ever hear, know or understand.”
Brooke explained that she and Oleksy relocated to Florida years ago to be closer to Hulk as he was dealing with ongoing health issues. In due time, however, Brooke said her dad started icing her out.
“All of a sudden he didn’t want me at surgeries,” Brooke explained. “Everything started getting covered in a thick veil. It was like there was a force field around him that I couldn’t get through.”
Brooke said her relationship with her father started to become filled with “respectful disagreements that took an emotional toll on me.”
“During the last two years, I had to step away to protect my heart,” Brooke explained.
Despite their estrangement at the time of his death, Brooke also expressed gratitude for Hulk in her post.
“All I ever wanted from my father was love, honesty and a deep connection,” Brooke said. “And for a few special years, I had that — with memories that will last a lifetime. My world is forever changed. But I’m deeply blessed with a loving husband and two beautiful children who remind me every day of life’s greatest gifts.”
She concluded, “I’m deeply grateful for the love, tributes, and memorials from his fans and friends. His life was one worth celebrating — and always will be.”
Hulk died on Thursday, July 24, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
He was 71 years old.
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