News broke July 24 that WWE icon Hulk Hogan had died at the age of 71. There’s no doubt his family is feeling the loss most deeply, including his daughter, Brooke, who has been estranged from her father over the last several years. But according to one insider, Brooke and Hulk did speak before his wedding to Sky Daily, and even then, she expressed her concern for his health.
Brooke and her dad reportedly last spoke in 2023.
According to what an insider told TMZ, Brooke, 37, spoke with Hulk before he and Sky tied the knot in September 2023. At the time, she “expressed deep love and concern for her father,” whose health was reportedly already declining.
The insider added that Hulk wasn’t interested in being told to slow down, but Brooke was still able to tell him she loved him during what would end up being their final conversation.
As the years passed, they were never able to make it right.
The source went on to tell TMZ that Brooke’s husband, Steven Olesky, reached out to Hulk over the years to try to repair the relationship between her and her dad, but he “responded coldly.” He was never able to meet Brooke’s kids before he died.
According to TMZ’s insider, the wrestler “ultimately only wanted a relationship with her under his terms.”
Brooke went no contact with both of her parents before Hulk’s death.
Back in March, Brooke shared a lengthy statement on Instagram explaining why she was no longer on speaking terms with Hulk or her mom, Linda Hogan, after she was “EXTREMELY verbally and mentally abused since childhood.”
Brooke continued, “Up until adulthood, I’ve received berating and vile text messages, verbal, public reamings with unbelievably hurtful words said to me that cannot be forgotten. I’ve been ASKED to defend poor behavior to the public and have done so out of love.”
“I’ve been used as a pawn, a buffer, and been treated like I’m downright stupid too,” she added later in her statement. “No child or human should ever experience something like this.”
A source said Hulk was ‘proud’ of his daughter.
“He was very proud of her, she was his little girl,” a source told Page Six on Thursday. “We still can’t believe he is gone.”
Hours after the news of his death broke, a post memorializing Hulk was shared on his official Instagram account.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend. Our beloved Terry Bollea, known worldwide as Hulk Hogan, passed away today surrounded by his loved ones,” read the statement. “At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends.”
