Brooke Hogan says Hulk was addicted to "validation" rather than drugs.
The WWE legend died in July 2025 aged 71 after suffering a heart attack, wile new Netflix docuseries Hulk Hogan: Real American has told of how he became reliant on prescription medication fentanyl during his time with TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling, having signed with the organisation at the age of 58 when he "hit rock-bottom" after he gave "everything" to first wife Linda Hogan when they divorced in 2009.
However, his daughter Brooke told Extra: "What people don't know is my dad quit cold turkey for a long time…
"I don't think he had an addictive personality at all towards drugs. I think his addiction was validation, particularly from women. I think that it was, you know, the sex part.
"I think it was… ‘Am I still young? Am I still strong? Am I still attractive? Am I still good enough?’… That led to a lot of his downfalls and a lot of his scandals.”
Brooke, AGE, didn't take part in the new documentary, and she wasn't impressed by what she saw.
She explained: “Why come out of hiding and talk about something that I'm just gonna get raked over the coals for anyway?…
"It's missing 98 percent of real life, like it was a beautiful showcase piece on my dad's life, but it didn't talk nearly about the underbelly of the beast.”
The pair's relationship soured over the years, and Brooke explained that Hulk "never really" apologised to her for harm he caused.
She added: "He did really hurt me, and I never really got a genuine apology or a sorry.
"The forgiveness just came from my love for him, but even in the documentary, I felt like there wasn't accountability, and I was just like, ‘This is basically your last chance to really be honest.’”
Their issues got so bad that Brooke even asked to be removed from his will, which came down not wanting the legal strain involved.
She said: "I did not want to be part of legal battles, and that I still stand by.
"I knew that when money is involved, if you mix my money and family, you get betrayal, you get drama, you get crazy, and I was like, 'I do not want that.’”
However, Brooke has admitted if she could talk to her late father one more time, she would want to give him a heartfelt message.
She said: “'God, I loved you so much, so much, so much more than I think anybody ever could have'… My love was endless for him.”
