The Real Reason Brooke Hogan Chose to Skip Dad Hulk Hogan’s Funeral originally appeared on Parade.
Hulk Hogan was laid to rest in Clearwater, Florida, on Tuesday, August 5, nearly two weeks after he died of a heart attack at age 71. The service was packed with high-profile names—Kid Rock, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Ric Flair, and Dennis Rodman were all in attendance. But the WWE Hall of Famer’s daughter, Brooke Hogan, was noticeably absent.
Now she’s explaining why.
“My father hated the morbidity of funerals,” the 37-year-old former VH1 star wrote on Instagram later that day. “He didn’t want one. And although I know people grieve in many ways – and I’m so grateful for all celebrations and events organized to honor him, as his daughter, I had to make my own decision to honor him the best and most genuine way I knew how…privately…the way that made me feel the closest to him.”
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A post shared by Brooke Oleksy (@mizzhogan)
She continued, “The only thing missing today was him in is pop up lawn chair watching the waves… and the sunset 💔.”
Instead of attending the service, Brooke and her husband Steven Oleksy—who tied the knot in June 2022—took their 7-month-old twins to the beach.
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“We took our babies to the beach, and put them in the same salty waters you loved,” she said. “Molly loved the water. I think she’ll be a ‘little fish’ as you called me. Every grain of sand and every wave reminded me of being your beach baby.”
Wrapping up her post, the Hogan Knows Best alum added, “Rest in heaven, Daddy ❤️”
Brooke’s tribute struck a chord online.
“Brings tears to my eyes,” one person wrote in the comments section.
“The way you honored him is absolutely beautiful. I hope the ocean always brings you comfort and keeps his memory close,” another added.
“You knew him better than any one of us did, and your right to grieve however you choose,” chimed in a third.
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The emotional post came just hours after Brooke made a surprise call-in to The Bubba the Love Sponge Show, marking her first public interview since her father’s death. During the nearly hour-long segment, the “About Us” singer revealed that she had asked to be removed from Hulk’s will in 2023.
EXCLUSIVE: Brooke Hogan calls into our show to talk about the death of her father Hulk Hogan, his wife, what she knew about his health and so much more! pic.twitter.com/JhgUSsb6jl
— Bubba The Love Sponge®️ (@TheBubbaArmy) August 5, 2025
“I was sobbing,” she told the host. “I just said, take me off everything. I don’t want to be a part of it.” Brooke said she was afraid of the legal and emotional fallout that might follow her dad’s death, especially involving her mother, Linda Hogan, and Hulk’s third wife, Sky Daily. “I don’t want to fight Linda. I don’t want to fight Scientology… it scared me. And I just said, I want out.”
Hulk and Linda were married from 1983 to 2009 and had two children together—Brooke and her younger brother, Nick. He later married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, but the couple divorced in 2021. In September 2023, he wed Daily, who remained his wife until his passing.
The Real Reason Brooke Hogan Chose to Skip Dad Hulk Hogan’s Funeral first appeared on Parade on Aug 6, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
