On August 2, 2025, Steve Olesky, husband of Brooke Hogan, broke his silence in an exclusive interview with People magazine, shedding light on the fractured relationship between his wife and her father, WWE legend Hulk Hogan. The revelation comes in the wake of Hulk Hogan’s death on July 24, 2025, at age 71, following a cardiac arrest, and amidst swirling rumors about the cause of their two-year estrangement. Olesky’s candid remarks dispel speculation, particularly targeting misinformation about Hulk’s third wife, Sky Daily, while painting a complex picture of a family torn apart by personal grievances and unmet expectations.

Setting the Record Straight: Not About Sky Daily

Olesky firmly rejected rumors that Brooke’s rift with her father stemmed from disapproval of Hulk Hogan’s marriage to Sky Daily in September 2023. Social media had been abuzz with claims that Brooke’s absence from her father’s wedding signaled tension with his new wife. “My wife will say it—it had nothing to do with his new wife,” Olesky stated emphatically. “It had to do with the way he treated her.”

The rift, according to Olesky, was rooted in a series of private phone calls between Brooke and Hulk, marked by “mistruths” and misunderstandings that eroded their bond. These conversations, which Olesky described as deeply personal, culminated in a two-year period of estrangement, during which Brooke and her father had no direct contact. The emotional toll of supporting her father through his controversies, including a 2015 racism scandal involving leaked audio, further strained Brooke’s mental well-being, prompting her to distance herself.

A Wedding Missed, A Bond Broken

A pivotal moment in the rift occurred in June 2022, when Hulk Hogan declined to attend Brooke’s wedding to Olesky in Florida. Olesky recounted Hulk’s dismissive response: “He told me he ‘doesn’t do weddings or funerals anymore.’” This absence was particularly stinging for Brooke, who had been a devoted daughter, attending nearly 25 of her father’s surgeries over the years. In retaliation, Brooke chose not to attend Hulk’s wedding to Sky Daily, a decision that marked the beginning of their public estrangement.

Olesky, a former professional hockey player, revealed his efforts to bridge the gap. He maintained contact with members of Brooke’s family, including her brother Nick, hoping to facilitate reconciliation. However, each interaction with Hulk only reinforced Olesky’s resolve to protect his wife. “Every conversation with my father-in-law just led me further to protect my family and my wife at all costs,” he said. This protective stance underscored the gravity of the rift, which extended beyond mere disagreements to a fundamental breakdown in trust.

A Grandfather’s Disinterest: The Twins Snubbed

Adding to the heartbreak, Olesky disclosed that Hulk showed “no interest” in meeting his newborn grandchildren, fraternal twins Oliver Andrew and Molly Gene, born on January 15, 2025. Olesky reached out to Hulk a month and a half after the twins’ birth, sending text messages to gauge his interest, but received no response. Even an offer from Nick to bring Hulk to meet the twins fell through. “I know in my heart I did everything I could,” Brooke later wrote on Instagram, reflecting on the unanswered messages that broke her heart.

The twins’ arrival, celebrated by Brooke and Olesky as a moment of joy, highlighted the depth of the family divide. Brooke’s decision to name her daughter Molly Gene, sharing a middle name with her father (born Terry Gene Bollea), was a poignant nod to their bond, despite the estrangement. Yet, Hulk’s apparent indifference to his grandchildren underscored the personal cost of their fractured relationship.

Financial and Emotional Boundaries: Brooke’s Will Decision

In 2023, Brooke took the drastic step of requesting removal from her father’s will, a decision driven by distrust of those around him. According to TMZ, Brooke feared that “not a single person around” Hulk could be trusted, and she sought to avoid a potential financial battle after his death. This move followed years of disagreements, with Brooke expressing concern for her father’s health and vulnerability to exploitation during their final conversation in 2023. Her choice to distance herself financially reflected a broader effort to protect her emotional well-being, a theme echoed in her public statements about enduring verbal and mental abuse in childhood.

Despite these tensions, sources close to Hulk maintained that he remained proud of Brooke, often referring to her as his “baby girl.” This lingering affection, however, could not bridge the gap created by years of hurt and misunderstanding.

Brooke’s Emotional Tribute: A Bond Beyond the Rift

Following Hulk’s death, Brooke addressed their estrangement in a heartfelt Instagram post on July 29, 2025. “My dad’s blood runs through my veins. His eyes shine through my children. And our bond has never broken, not even in his final moments,” she wrote. She clarified that the rift was not a single “big fight” but a series of “respectful disagreements” that took an emotional toll. Brooke emphasized her efforts to support her father, including moving to Florida to be closer during his health struggles, only to feel shut out by a “force field” around him.

Her tribute, coupled with Olesky’s clarifications, painted a picture of a daughter who loved deeply but chose self-preservation. “I had to step away to protect my heart,” Brooke wrote, a sentiment that resonated with fans and sparked widespread support on social media, with hashtags like #BrookeHogan trending on X.

The Legacy of a Wrestling Icon and a Family in Turmoil

Hulk Hogan’s death marked the end of a larger-than-life career that defined professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s. His reality show Hogan Knows Best, which featured Brooke and her brother Nick, brought their family into the spotlight from 2005 to 2007, but also exposed underlying tensions that persisted long after the cameras stopped rolling. The public nature of their rift, amplified by media scrutiny, has made Brooke’s journey one of resilience and reinvention, from reality star to successful Nashville interior designer.

Olesky’s defense of his wife underscores their united front as they navigate grief and public speculation. His revelations challenge the narrative of a simple family feud, highlighting instead a complex interplay of loyalty, hurt, and boundaries. As Brooke and Olesky raise their twins and build their life together, they carry forward a legacy marked by both love and loss.

A Cautionary Tale of Fame and Family

The Hogan family saga serves as a reminder of the personal costs of fame. Brooke’s estrangement from both parents—her mother, Linda Hogan, also claimed an eight-year rift—reflects the challenges of maintaining relationships under public scrutiny. Olesky’s protective stance and Brooke’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into their efforts to forge a new path, free from the shadows of past controversies.

As the world mourns Hulk Hogan, the focus shifts to Brooke’s future. Her strength, evident in her thriving interior design business and new role as a mother, suggests a resilience that transcends family drama. Olesky’s clarifications, while painful, provide closure to a chapter defined by misunderstanding, ensuring that Brooke’s story is told on her terms. In the end, this is not just a tale of a rift, but of a woman reclaiming her voice and her peace in the face of a complicated legacy.