Despite having a complicated relationship in life, Hogan Knows Best star Brooke Hogan is mourning the passing of her father, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, following his death on July 24 at age 71. Hulk and his ex-wife, Linda Hogan, had two children: Brooke and younger brother Nick Hogan, and together, the family appeared on a reality show, Hogan Knows Best, from 2005 through 2007.

Hulk, who was born Terry Bollea, became a household name during his magnificent wrestling career, but he was introduced to a wider audience through his family’s reality show. The entire family became tabloid fixtures in the early to mid-aughts and, in recent years, have made headlines for their estrangement.

E! News reported that despite their estrangement, Brooke is grieving the loss of her father. Her husband, Steven Oleksy, shared a post from Brooke’s friend Ashley Kora, expressing sadness at Hulk’s death, and added the words, “Thank you for the love and support for my beautiful wife. We are incredibly lucky to have you in our lives—not just during this challenging time, but always.”

Steven seemed to hint at the family troubles when he acknowledged that Hulk “chose differently for himself.”

What Brooke Hogan’s Husband’s Reaction Means

Brooke Herself Has Remained Mum

The entire Hogan family became household names after starring on their own reality show on VH1 in the 2000s. Audiences fell in love with their unconventional family who loved each other despite scandals and fame. Brooke tried her hand at pop stardom, releasing an album in 2006, and getting her own spin-off show, Brooke Knows Best, in 2008.

But the Hogan family endured major tragedies and scandals, with son Nick’s involvement in a devastating 2007 car crash that led to his passenger requiring medical care for the rest of his life becoming the main impetus for the family’s reality show cancellation. Nick was charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence, and served jail time for the accident.

Also in 2007, Hulk and Linda announced their divorce after 24 years of marriage amid rumors Hulk had cheated with a friend of Brooke’s.

In recent years, Brooke has been estranged from her famous family, cutting ties with them in order to lead a life out of the spotlight with her husband and twins, who were born in January 2025. That’s why it’s unexpected that she spoke out via her husband on social media.

Our Take On Brooke Hogan’s Husband Speaking Out

Brooke Is Grieving The Loss

Despite all of the drama and the messy estrangement, Brooke is clearly still affected by her father’s death. Her husband described a “challenging time” for the family as he expressed gratitude for the support of friends, which implied that Brooke is grieving her father’s death privately.

Families, especially families in the spotlight, can be complicated, and fame can sometimes make those complications more intense. Brooke has had to face the court of public opinion when it came to some of her family’s less savory actions, including her parents’ divorce and her brother’s arrest.

If Brooke felt the best course of action to protect her peace was to cut them off, it was for the best. Still, a death hits hard, especially the death of a parent. No matter what the nature of their relationship at the time of his death was, Hulk was Brooke’s only father, and she’ll likely be processing the Hogan Knows Best star’s death for a long time.

Source: E! News