The 2025 Emmy Awards, held at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theatre on September 14, have come and gone, but the buzz surrounding the event is far from over. This year, it’s not just the winners or the glitzy after-parties making headlines—it’s the controversy over who was left out of the show’s annual “In Memoriam” segment. Among the most talked-about omissions was WWE legend and reality TV personality Hulk Hogan, whose absence from the televised tribute has sparked both confusion and outrage from fans, family, and celebrities alike.
Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, died in July 2025 at the age of 71. According to The Blast, the cause of death was an acute myocardial infarction—a heart attack. Medical records also revealed that Hogan had battled atrial fibrillation and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a type of cancer affecting white blood cells. Despite his health struggles, Hogan’s larger-than-life persona endured, as did his impact on American pop culture through decades in the wrestling ring and his reality show, “Hogan Knows Best.”
Yet when the Emmys rolled out their annual tribute to recently lost television icons, Hogan’s name and image were nowhere to be seen. Instead, the segment included stars like Maggie Smith, Michelle Trachtenberg, George Wendt, Ozzy Osbourne, David Lynch, Quincy Jones, and Anne Burrell. The musical portion of the tribute featured Vince Gill performing “Go Rest High on That Mountain” with Lainey Wilson, a moment that was intended to honor the industry’s dearly departed. But for many, the absence of Hogan and other notable figures overshadowed the heartfelt performance.
Linda Hogan, Hulk’s ex-wife of 26 years, has been especially vocal about what she sees as a glaring oversight. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she speculated that her ex-husband’s political leanings might have played a role in the snub. “It’s just a guess, but they should have named him!” she said, adding, “I really can’t tell you why they left him out...just a guess considering the way he was treated at his last appearance in LA.” Linda pointed to Hulk’s high-profile speech supporting Donald Trump and J.D. Vance at the 2024 Republican National Convention as a possible reason for his exclusion. “They should have named him!” she reiterated, making it clear that her remarks were based on suspicion, not concrete evidence.
The wrestling superstar wasn’t the only big name missing from the tribute. The omission list included “Sopranos” actor Jerry Adler, “What’s Happening” actress Daniel Spencer, “King of the Hill” cast member Jonathan Joss, “Smallville” alum Terence Stamp, as well as two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman and actor Val Kilmer. According to Entertainment Weekly, these stars were instead honored on the Emmys’ official website—a move that did little to quell frustration among fans and industry insiders.
Social media quickly lit up with reactions. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disbelief, with one user writing, “Damn the Emmys forgot about Hulk Hogan.” Another lamented, “Hulk Hogan died and no one seems to even care anymore.” The absence of Jonathan Joss, who was fatally shot in Texas in June following a dispute with a neighbor, also drew criticism, with one fan calling his omission “very sad and disrespectful.” The Emmys’ selective approach to the “In Memoriam” segment has become something of an annual tradition, often prompting backlash and sparking debates over who gets remembered and why.
Even those inside the industry took notice. During the ceremony, Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett joked with co-star Ray Romano about the unpredictability of making the Emmys’ tribute list. Romano quipped that Garrett would be included “if it had been a slow year” for celebrity deaths, drawing laughter from the audience but underscoring the segment’s sometimes arbitrary nature.
Linda Hogan’s outspokenness didn’t end with the Emmys. In August, she marked what would have been Hulk’s 72nd birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing a throwback photo and the message, “I love and miss you so much.” The tribute drew mixed reactions online. Some criticized Linda, asking, “Where was all this praise and love when he was alive???” while others defended her, with one commenter noting, “No one was in their house to know what exactly happened. I’m sure she misses him and [loves] him.”
Linda has never shied away from discussing her complicated relationship with the wrestling icon. After his death, she wrote, “I loved Hulkster more than he loved me. It hurt when he cheated.” Despite the pain of infidelity, she admitted, “I’ve been weeping all day. The finality. It’s just shocking. We spent every minute together for so many years. I’ve known him since he was 28 yrs old! I was 22.” Her candid reflections added a deeply personal layer to the public mourning of Hogan’s passing.
Politics, it seems, were never far from the conversation. Hulk Hogan’s support for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign was well-publicized. At the Republican National Convention, he took the stage to his iconic wrestling theme, “Real American,” and delivered a speech backing Trump and J.D. Vance. Former President Trump himself paid tribute to Hogan after his death, calling him a “great friend” and writing, “Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.” Yet, as Entertainment Weekly pointed out, Hogan had also supported Democrats in the past, including Barack Obama during his first presidential run, adding nuance to the narrative of political exclusion.
While the Emmys’ “In Memoriam” segment is always a balancing act—trying to honor as many as possible in the limited time available—this year’s omissions have struck a nerve. The show’s producers have yet to comment on the specific criteria used for selection, but the longer tribute available on the Emmys’ website offers some consolation to fans who feel their favorites were overlooked. Still, for many, the pain of exclusion lingers.
As the dust settles on another awards season, the debate over who gets remembered—and who does not—remains as fierce as ever. Whether politics played a role or not, the controversy around Hulk Hogan’s omission has reignited questions about legacy, recognition, and the ways in which our culture chooses to honor its icons. For those who loved and admired Hogan, his absence from the Emmys’ stage is a reminder that even legends can sometimes be left in the shadows.
