Linda Hogan to Hulk: 'Be a Big Boy' and Apologize

Linda Hogan has waited patiently to tell her side of the story of her 2009 divorce from wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, and she pulls no punches in setting the record straight about the split in the memoir
'Wrestling the Hulk,' telling
PopEater about her motives for writing it and the truth about her new engagement to 22-year-old "soul mate," Charley Hill. Linda, who has kept her ex's surname of Bollea, says it comes down to his alleged cheating and the collapse of trust that came with it. "He's the one who has to live with himself and look in the mirror knowing what he's done, destroyed a family," she tells us, adding that she's forgiven him even though he won't cop to his mistakes.
"I have moved on and forgiven him even though he's never apologized to me or the kids," she told us. "We go through the lawyers. I couldn't care less if I don't talk to him but my kids suffer. It's kind of a cowardly way out. I hope some day he can grow up and be a big boy and talk to his ex-wife for his kids sake."
Did you write this book in response to your husband's memoir?
No, my book had nothing to do with Terry's book. I had a journal I kept for many years and during the divorce it was really difficult to voice my opinion, not that I needed to, but my divorce was so public, it was like my husband was using every media campaign to get his hands on to try and out me and make me look like the bad guy and I really didn't have a voice in that and I thought with my son having got in that horrific accident and going to jail and the divorce, it was just not the time to air my dirty laundry and make things worse. I didn't want to be pouring fuel on the fire then but I thought at some point I will be able to talk and tell my accounting of what I think happened in my marriage which is the truth. it's been a long time coming and I hope that with millions of women in the world going through the same situation as I went through, hopefully when they read the book they'll be able to feel a little bit better knowing that there's some help out there, learn something from this and I'm hoping to help women move forward from sticky situations.
Were you frustrated at being portrayed as the bad guy?
Right, at this point nobody heard my side, he went out there and made it look like I was screwing some 19 year old, my kid's high school friend and it was nothing like that, trying to make it like maybe I was the one possibly doing the cheating. It killed me but I had good lawyers, everything is going through the court system, I don't want to look like a blabbermouth, the truth will come out. At that point I didn't really care what the public thought of me. I was concerned about my kids who were already being embarrassed enough by the public divorce. My job first was to be a good mom, make sure I got through this divorce without too much trouble.
Tell me about those last few years of the marriage.
I was doing all the gluing and mending and keeping the family together. Making everyone look good, handling the show and the kids careers, handling the animals, the house, the TV show. I was like the camel, they just loaded me up. It just got to the point where I had a feeling my husband was having an affair, I knew it in my heart of hearts, I just didn't have proof. When a husband is cheating he doesn't act the same, I certainly knew that, I knew there was a problem.
Do you wish you had had the guts to leave earlier?
I think that would be my message to women, just quit making excuses for everything. Look at the situation, maybe write things down because sometimes they become clearer when you see them on a piece of paper. I just think like stop messing around, Life is short, nobody is guaranteed 90 years here and at some point, you know your kids are going to be ok and when you find out your husband is doing that to you, you really don't have faith in anything anymore, it's gone. I said to myself, 'I cried my last tear over him, he's not worth it. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself, I feel sorry for him. He's the one who has to live with himself and look in the mirror knowing what he's done, destroyed a family.
Things went south when he had an affair, the first that I knew of, ten years into the marriage and that pretty much changed the course of everything. It changed me.
Do you talk at all?
I don't speak to him. I'm able to forgive and move on. I have moved on and forgiven him even though he's never apologized to me or the kids. We go through the lawyers. I couldn't care less if I don't talk to him but my kids suffer. He only wants to communicate through lawyers which leads me to the conclusion that he doesn't want to have to account for any past actions. It's kind of a cowardly way out. I hope some day he can grow up and be a big boy and talk to his ex-wife for his kids sake.
How's Charley?
We've been dating for three years. He's a soul mate. I really needed somebody at that time in my life, I was alone and needed someone so much. He became a great friend and then it became physical and emotional and everything else. He's just a super, awesome person. He's proposed to me and I've accepted. It's not like it's a cut and concrete things. It's just something we would like to do. I love being with someone younger, I'm kind of a young spirit and he's kind of an old soul so it works out.
He is about 30 years younger and one of your son's friends, though.
My husband made everyone think he was my son's high school friend. It wasn't like that at all. He attended the same school in a different year. My kids did not know him and I didn't meet Charley until almost ten months after I'd filed for divorce. My husband was already living with another woman way before that.
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The Hogan Family
Charley Hill (L) and Linda Hogan attend the party celebrating the release of "Sexy Slang's Bedroom Challenges" on October 9, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. Sexy Slang's Bedroom Challenges Book Tour Party Los Angeles, CA United States October 9, 2010 Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com To license this image (61994369), contact WireImage.com
Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com
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The Hogan Family
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 28: Linda Hogan promotes her book "Wrestling The Hulk: My Life Against The Ropes" at the Bookends Bookstore on June 28, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)
The Hogan Family
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 28: Linda Hogan promotes her book "Wrestling The Hulk: My Life Against The Ropes" at the Bookends Bookstore on June 28, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)
The Hogan Family
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - JUNE 28: Linda Hogan promotes her book "Wrestling The Hulk: My Life Against The Ropes" at the Bookends Bookstore on June 28, 2011 in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Hulk Hogan and son Nick Bollea visit the E3 video game convention in downtown Los Angeles to promote Hulk's new game "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" for the Xbox Kinect. While taking in the sights, Hulk took a pit stop to chat up a couple of "booth babes" who were showing off a Ferrari. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 7, 2011 Job: 110607B1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com
The Hogan Family
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Men date women younger all of the time and no one says a thing. I have never understood why it's ok for men to date younger but not for women. Its a bunch of crap.
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who cares bleach blonde lady we all have our problems but dont air them across the country no feelin sorry for you sorry bout that and what you tryin to sell a book or something get a job and support your little boy
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The only things that came out of her was his kids, I hope to God they are his. She only stuck around because she was a nobody without him and is nothing again. While he gave everything to her she took and took and bet she was doing someone on the side when he was on the road sacrificing his body to make sure she was well kept. She took his spirit and his love and spit on it long ago. She said she has forgivin him but she doesn't speak to him. Maybe she needs to take the money she bled from him and purchase a dictionary or a bible and look up the definition of forgiveness. She isn't able to deal with a real man like The Hulk and that is why she is with a boy. This is the only way she can feel like a woman having this boy kissing her fanny but she is in for a surprise when he uses her until he realizes she been rode hard and put away wet. What ya going to do when The Hulk washes his hands of you? Write a book full of Buffalo bagels you douchebag! Anybody that has bought her book or buys it in the future too much time on their hsnds. The title of her book should have been Humpin a Hag in my opinion.
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She forgot to add that she was Mrs Perfect wife to her resume'
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Hello Linda- Earth calling...you kept terry's last name?
why?
1. you love the publicity it gives
2. You want to be able to still cash in on HIS hard work.
Linda you are to be pitied. You have a "soul mate" that is younger than your daughter.....really...you are such a sleaze, and yet you want people to think you are an upstanding woman?
sleaze bag!
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I agree she is just in it for the money...STILL. Linda needs to grow up and date someone your own age.... Stop trying to destroy your ex...like it says you kept his name for a reason...and i agree you are a Blonde sleaze bag to bad Hulk stayed with you so long.. stop trying to ruin his life and get on with your own...You are how old???? GROW UP LINDA!!!!!
She also might be keeping the Bollea name because it's her kids' name. My mother had mixed feelings like that - she wanted to go back to her original name, but eventually decided to keep her ex-husband's name because it was also her children's name. Likewise with the Hogan name, which the kids also use. Plus she has been known by those two names for decades, I think she has a right to them now. It's a matter of name recognition, nothing wrong with that.
She can't be all that useless. Both of them were less than stellar parents, just judging from the astonishing glimpses in their "reality" show. But long before that show, she established and maintained a home for Hulk and his children. He couldn't have had his career and a home and family without her. That's why divorce settlements split things - the money etc. belongs to both partners for real. As far as her relationship with a 22 year old is concerned - I can see why the kids are upset, but honestly - men do that all the time. If Hulk was dating a 19 year old or about to marry a 22 year old, the reaction would be very different. We also have no idea what really happened behind closed doors - abuse in families often is not noticed by others in the same house. He was on certain drugs that can indeed make guys unpredictably scary, and many women don't call the police over incidents.
Who really cares about any of these people?
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A lot of us still care about the Hulk.. His ex not so much she is just a money grabbing hoe!!!!
She can write whatever she wants to. I don,t believe a word of it. She,s just a RW wanting some young buck and make some money writing a book that is total CRAP!
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Please!!!!! 30 years her junior is ridiculous. Charlie is a cute YOUNG man. He is too young for Linda and if she thinks that he is going to be faithful to a woman of her age, she's crazy. Linda, none of us want to get older but look in the mirror. You're still attractive but you have aged significantly and having a 22 year old boy on your arm isn't going to change that fact. I hope your mind catches up in age to your body soon. Wake up.
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Does anyonw remember this song, B-I-M-B-O and bimbo was her name..
Funny thing is how much Hogans girlfriend looks like his daughter Brook and Linda's boyfriend looks like a younger Hulk...
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who cares about her walking down the street or sitting next to her boy toy lets see some nudes show some skin
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Unfortunately you really can't fight father time, this is a young man that hasn't truly experienced life yet if you think he's truly your soulmate we will see what happens as you get a bit older and closer to 60 and he starts to wake up.
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Linda who? If it wasn't for Hulk no one would even know who you are. Ungrateful cow.
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FUNNY HOW IT TOOK HER AT LEAST 2 YEARS TO MAKE UP STORIES, IF ANY WERE TRUE IT WOULD HAVE CAME UP IN THE DIVORCE HEARINGS.............. WHATS SO PATHETIC IS SHE STARTED DATING A 19 YEAR OLD BOY THAT WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THIER CHILDREN .. WHILE SHE WAS STILL MARRIED. THE TELLING PART OF THIS STORY IS THAT HER OWN CHILDREN DONT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER.... WHEN YOUR CHILD DOESNT WANT TO BE AROUND YOU AND DOESNT LIKE YOU .. THEN YOUR DID SOMETHING REALLY BAD. SHE IS AND ALWAYS BE A LEACH AND A TRAMP....
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wow they look cute together.. and that guy does look like an old soul.. not a typical 22 year old. good for her!
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nobody knows what goes on in other people's houses. Nobody wants to believe her because everybody loves the hulkster. Too late to cry wolf now. Get over it and move on
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On my. What a lovely "family"! He's a washed-up wife-beater peddling rented TV's, she's a cradle-robbing skank, the son is a remorseless murderer and the daughter has more plastic in her than a set of Tupperwear. They're ALL freaks. "Family". Right.
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I'm ALL for Linda Hogan getting out of a bad marriage... BUT this guy she has hooked up with is BAD NEWS, and she needs to settle down and rethink this "relationship".. The guy is 30 yrs. YOUNGER than her!!! for Goodness sake, and he's her "soul mate"??? Get real.. she is just very vulnerable right now after her divorce issues, and this is ABSURD........I know whe looks good, but the age gap is just TOO MUCH.....it might work for a while, but then that "age gap" starts to close in nearer, and things really change. This is going to last about 10 mins. when he get antsy for a "younger" man and starts to roam... like her husband, and she will go thru this all over again and get hurt.
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