Brooke Hogan, the daughter of legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan, recently faced criticism online after posting a bikini photo while mourning her late father. Brooke later responded to the backlash with another social media post.
Hogan went viral after a tribute post about her late father featured a photo of her in a green bikini. She later addressed critics directly in a follow-up post.
Brooke Hogan’s tribute for dad Hulk goes viral
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Brooke Hogan posted a carousel on Instagram, mourning her late father, the veteran WWF legend Hulk Hogan. Brooke began the carousel with a picture of herself in a bright lime green bikini. The next photos featured Hulk, as well.
She wrote in the caption, “Needed some time with my thoughts, my daddy and the ocean he loved so much. Every wave hit my heart like a memory that felt like it was yesterday. The waves carried the bass in his voice, the salt water felt like his hugs. The smell of the ocean smelled like so many days on the boat we spent together. I remember him whisking me across the surf like King Triton holding his Little Mermaid… if I could breathe underwater, I’d spend forever under the sea if it meant being that much closer to him.”
However, the images also drew criticism online, with some users questioning the choice of the opening photo. Several comments accused Brooke of posting what they described as a “thirst trap” while discussing her father’s death. “First picture was totally necessary to remember your father, right?” one comment read. Another user wrote, “I miss my daddy so much. And look, everyone. Here’s a picture of my butt.”
Brooke responded shortly afterward with another post, where she shared edited images of women with various body types lying on the beach. “Would my post have been more sincere if THIS girl were at the beach mourning her dad?” she wrote alongside the images.
She added in the caption, “Trust me, if I wanted to give you a thirst trap, you would have gotten one. If I were a surfer, a swim instructor, heavier, thinner… would it be less shocking? I grew up in swimsuits. I understand that not a lot of the world gets that. But this is my home. This is me. This is my one of many days I grieved my dad. Shame on anyone for demonizing it.”
The second post also received supportive responses from many followers.
