Hulk Hogan was laid to rest in a memorial service in Largo, Fla. on Tuesday (Aug. 5), drawing stars from the world of wrestling, as well as actors and musicians like Kid Rock.
But the wrestling legend’s daughter Brooke didn’t attend, per TMZ.
She explained why — and shared how she privately honored her father instead — in a social media post, sharing several photos of her family’s visit to a beach in memory of Hogan.
“My father hated the morbidity of funerals. He didn’t want one,” Brooke simply says, as an explanation of why she chose not to attend his service.
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“Although I know people grieve in many different ways — and I’m so grateful for all celebrations and events organized to honor him, I had to make my own decision to honor him the best and most genuine way I know how … privately,” she continues.
A Family Oceanside Remembrance
Pictured in Brooke’s beach photos are her husband, Steven Olensky, and their twin children Oliver and Molly, who were born in January 2025.
“Daddy, we honored you in the simplest way that agreed with my soul,” she writes. “We took our babies to the beach, and put them in the same salty waters you loved.”
Brooke goes on to say that the experience of visiting the beach with her children brought back memories of being at the ocean with her dad as a child.
“Molly loved the water. I think she’ll be a ‘little fish’ as you called me,” she continues. “We love you and honor the things that made you so special.”
“Every grain of sand and every wave reminded me of being your beach baby, and brought us closer to you,” Brooke adds. “I pray you are at peace and know how dearly I loved you.”
Hulk Hogan + Daughter Brooke’s Relationship Was Strained in Later Years
According to a timeline established by TMZ and People, Hogan and Brooke were estranged for the final two years of his life.
They’d had a tumultuous relationship for years, due to a culmination of issues.
They reportedly had a phone call two weeks before Hogan married his wife Sky, in the summer of 2023.
In that call, sources claim that Brooke told her dad she loved him, and urged him to prioritize his health over his work schedule.
Read More: Here’s What We Know About Hulk Hogan’s Tough Relationship With His Daughter
He apologized to her too, but that call wasn’t enough to mend fences. They remained estranged until Hogan’s death in July 2025.
How Did Hulk Hogan Die?
- Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Gene Bollea) died on July 24. He was 71 years old.
- Paramedics responded to his address after a call about a cardiac arrest. He was transported to a hospital, but lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful.
- His cause of death was later revealed to be an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
- Those documents revealed that he also had a history of leukemia, a diagnosis that wasn’t previously known by the public.
Read More: Hulk Hogan’s Cause of Death Revealed + a Shocking Cancer Revelation
Officials ruled that Hogan died of natural causes, and also that they had received a request for cremation.
Hulk Hogan’s Daughter Raises Questions About Why He Was Cremated So Quickly
During a call into the Bubba the Love Sponge show this week, Brooke raised some red flags about why the wrestling legend was cremated quickly, without an autopsy being performed.
Read More: Hulk Hogan’s Daughter Says His Death Leaves Unanswered Questions
“I do think it’s weird that no autopsy was performed, because yes, you can have a heart attack, but what was the reason for the heart attack, is the question,” she said.
Hogan had a history of atrial fibrillation, and had had many medical procedures intended to help his heart health in the past.
But Brooke says he’d been following his doctor’s regiment and on track to getting healthy.
“He was up and doing breathing exercises and stuff,” she continued. “That means the surgery on his heart was a success and it was working.”
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Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes