The glittering spectacle of the 2024 Emmy Awards has been overshadowed by a poignant omission, leaving wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and his family deeply wounded.
His former wife, Linda Claridge, who passed away in 2023, was notably absent from the ceremony's esteemed 'In Memoriam' segment, a decision that has sparked confusion and hurt.
Taking to social media platform X, an emotional Hogan posted a heartfelt message alongside a photo of Linda. "It really hurt my family that you left Linda Hogan out of the memorial tribute tonight", he wrote directly to the Television Academy. "She was loved by millions as a reality star and loved me and the kids through all the years in the WWE. Love and light, HH."
Linda Claridge was a constant presence beside Hogan during the peak of his WWE fame in the 1980s and 1990s. She later achieved her own reality TV status as a central figure on the VH1 series 'Hogan Knows Best' and its spin-off 'Brooke Knows Best', which chronicled the family's life.
The annual 'In Memoriam' is one of the most closely watched and debated parts of any major awards show. The Television Academy faces the difficult, and often criticised, task of selecting which of the many industry figures lost in the previous year will be featured in the limited-time broadcast segment.
This year's tribute, introduced by Charlie Puth and accompanied by the Choir, honoured numerous stars but left out Linda, a decision felt acutely by those who knew her public and private legacy.
The public nature of Hogan's call-out has ignited a conversation among fans and commentators about the selection criteria for these memorials and the personal impact of such exclusions on grieving families.
