Brooke Hogan recently opened up about her fraught relationship with her late father, Hulk Hogan, reflecting on their estrangement in the wake of his passing from a heart attack on July 24, 2023. Speaking with TMZ, she recounted how Hulk confided in her about the troubles he was experiencing with his partner, Sky Daily. Brooke revealed that Hulk was feeling pressured by Daily regarding their relationship, sharing that he feared the repercussions of a breakup. When the topic was raised, Hulk retreated into ambiguity and declined to elaborate further, which contributed to the brewing tension between them.
Their disagreements manifested through text, where Brooke urged him to reconsider his relationship with Daily, only for Hulk to respond with references to her own dating history, stating he hadn’t approved of her choices either. Brooke characterized these exchanges as “childish” and emotionally painful. She recalled a specific incident where a contractor involved in a renovation project for Hulk witnessed a confrontation between her and her father, prompting him to check on her afterward, highlighting Hulk’s changed demeanor as callous in his later years.
Despite the familial challenges and conflicting emotions, Brooke chose not to attend Hulk’s funeral held on August 5, opting instead for a visit to the ocean with her own children as a tribute. This decision wasn’t made lightly; she revealed that Hulk had explicitly expressed his wishes for his remains to be scattered at sea rather than at a traditional funeral. Brooke emphasized that she felt at peace with this choice, despite feeling judged for not attending the memorial, noting that her father had a disdain for the formalities associated with funerals.
The service itself, attended by numerous family and friends, was described as touching and respectful, honoring Hulk as a devoted family man and proud father to Brooke and her brother, Nick. Reports indicated that there was no drama during the ceremony, with a sense of mutual respect among those present, despite the somber reason for gathering. This atmosphere of shared grief underscored the shock and sorrow surrounding Hulk’s sudden death, illustrating how his absence impacted many.
Brooke’s reflection on her father’s views about funerals also conveyed a deeper understanding of his character. She asserted that Hulk would have disapproved of the conventional funeral practices, suggesting that he would not have wanted the spectacle of people mourning him who did not truly know him. Her feelings about his preferences seemed to guide her decision, indicating that fulfilling his dying wishes was more important than societal expectations surrounding grief.
In her shared narratives, Brooke depicted a complex relationship with Hulk—one marked by love but also pain, shaped by miscommunication and conflicting perspectives. Although their relationship was strained during his last years, she aimed to remember him in a way that honored his spirit, advocating for a more intimate remembrance over traditional rituals. The combination of shared history, love, and unresolved tensions paints a poignant picture of their father-daughter relationship, highlighting both the struggles and the bonds that tie families together, even amidst discord.
