Los Angeles, CA–“Using kids as pawns in a divorce is awful. Every day my mother resorts to this kind of behavior makes it that much harder for us to ever have a relationship again.” From Brooke Hogan Apologizes for Allegations Against Father (People Magazine, 7/24/08):
Brooke Hogan (pictured) issued an apology for making what she now calls false allegations that her father Hulk abused her mother.
“I did it under significant pressure from my mother,” Hogan, 20, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. “It was only after I learned all the facts that I realized I made a big mistake in signing it.” Hogan released the statement after a tabloid reported that she had signed a legal affidavit accusing her father, whose real name is Terry Bollea, of verbally and physically abusing wife Linda during their marriage. Linda, 48, filed for divorce last November, and her attorney told PEOPLE it was going to be “war.” Her attorney was not available for comment. A rep for Hulk Hogan declined to comment. In her statement to PEOPLE, Brooke admits to signing the affidavit. But, according to her rep, she later regretted the decision and asked that it not be filed in court. (At this point, according to Hulk’s attorney, no such document has been filed.) Brooke’s rep says: “Brooke Bollea is distressed at the latest efforts by mother Linda to fracture the family. This time they let leak out an old document that Brooke signed filled with exaggerations and fabrications about father Terry’s behavior during the marriage. The months-old document was signed by Brooke at a time when she was upset with her father.” Brooke is now living with Hulk, 54, and not on speaking terms with her mother. “I love my mother, and hope to one day reconcile with her,” Brooke says. “But using kids as pawns in a divorce is awful. Every day my mother resorts to this kind of behavior makes it that much harder for us to ever have a relationship again.”