Brooke Hogan’s husband offered brief remarks Tuesday following the shocking death of his father-in-law, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who passed away last Thursday at the age of 71.
Steven Oleksy, a former NHL player, posted a statement on his Instagram Story that featured a photo of himself with Hogan and Brooke, who had been estranged from her father in recent years.
“My wife and I have not released any official statement about the death of my father in law. We are grieving and processing privately and ask for the respect to do so,” Oleksy, 39, began.
Oleksy, who has been married to Brooke since 2022, then issued a grim warning to the public over content concerning Hogan’s death.
“If you see or hear something it did not come from us. There are many disturbing AI videos circulating that do not represent our family, feelings, or opinions,” he added.
“Thank you very much for the love, support and understanding.”
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, shared Brooke, 37, and son Nick, 34, with his first wife, Linda Hogan. The couple married in 1983 and finalized their divorce in 2009.
Brooke and Oleksy, who played for the Penguins and Capitals, welcomed twins in January.
Medics were sent to Hogan’s Clearwater, Fla., home on Thursday morning after a 911 call citing cardiac arrest.
He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after 11 a.m.
“WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,” WWE said in a statement Thursday.
“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
“WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Brooke’s final conversation with Hogan allegedly took place two weeks before the WWE Hall of Famer’s 2023 wedding to his third wife, Sky Daily, which she skipped.
TMZ reported Thursday that Brooke “expressed deep love and concern for her father, telling him she didn’t think he should still be working so hard given his declining health” on the call.
A source close to the Hogan family told Page Six on Thursday, “He was very proud of her, she was his little girl.”
Speculation over Hogan’s health had intensified in the weeks leading up to his death.
One month after Hogan underwent a neck procedure, questions about his well-being percolated in June after Bubba the Love Sponge, a radio personality, reported Hogan wasn’t doing well.
A rep for Hogan pushed back on the rumors to TMZ, with the outlet writing, “He’s just dealing with more of the same ailments he’s had for years. In fact, we’re told Hogan’s back to moving around already.”
In the wake of Hogan’s shocking death, the sports world has offered countless tributes to the wrestling legend, including wife Daily, who spoke out Friday.
“I wasn’t ready for this… and my heart is in pieces,” she wrote Friday on Instagram.
“He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.”
Before his marriage to Daily, Hogan wed Jennifer McDaniel in 2010. They divorced in 2022.