Wim Hof’s daughter has launched a furious defence of the TV ‘Ice Man’ after his former girlfriend sensationally accused him of being a drunken abuser.
Production on a British film about 65-year-old wellness guru Hof’s life has been temporarily halted after his ex-partner Caroline made shocking accusations against him.
But now Hof’s daughter Laura from a previous relationship has backed her father and angrily rejected Caroline’s claims.Â
Hof, whose cold exposure training of celebrities was the basis of BBC show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof in 2022, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Lee Mack, denies the serious allegations.Â
Laura took to Instagram to accuse her former stepmother of making unsubstantiated claims in Holland’s national de Volksrant newspaper.Â
Wim Hof’s daughter has launched a furious defence of the TV ‘Ice Man’ after his former girlfriend sensationally accused him of being a drunken abuser (Pictured: Laura and her father Wim)
Production on a British film about 65-year-old wellness guru Hof’s life has been temporarily halted
Hof’s daughter Laura from a previous relationship has backed her father and angrily rejected Caroline’s claims
Wim Hof has said he denies all of Caroline’s allegationsÂ
Hof’s cold exposure training of celebrities was the basis of BBC show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof in 2022
He taught celebrities how to control their bodies and mental health with sub-zero ice challenges. Pictured is a poncho-wearing Hof watching Alfie Boe taking the plunge
Laura claimed Caroline had thrown her out of the house 23 years ago.Â
She claimed that although her father had never ‘raised a finger’ to her, he had been denied his paternal rights to see her half-brother Noah for years.
Her post continued: ‘My dad has never, ever raised a finger about me or Caroline! Caroline has physically abused me up to 2 times, verbally was a constant
‘Caroline kicked me out of the house, and then tried to block me and my dad multiple times
‘Caroline has denied Noah, my brother, my father’s right for years.
‘Caroline is extremely manipulative.’
A spokesman for the London-based company behind the biopic on Hof said: ‘Genesius Pictures can confirm that due to the severity of the allegations, this production, which was in development only and had not begun filming, is on hold.’
The production company had said The Iceman, which was to star Joseph Fiennes as the Dutch motivational speaker, would be an ‘inspiring’, ‘moving’ and ‘at times extremely funny’ film. Promotional materials for the project were removed from its website yesterday.
Caroline contacted Volkskrant and spoke out about how she and her family had to endure his abusive behaviour as his fame grew.
The extreme athlete denies the allegations.
Laura (pictured) claimed Caroline had thrown her out of the house 23 years ago
Laura also claimed Caroline had denied Wim Hof (pictured) his parental rights for yearsÂ
The Dutch motivational speaker is noted for his ability to withstand low temperatures and is determined to teach as many as possible about cold therapy
Hof’s exploits have led to him clinching 26 world records for cold enduranceÂ
His Wim Hof method, famous for its use of cold showers and breathing exercises, has made him wealthy and brought him into contact with stars such as Oprah Winfrey and Jim Carrey.
Caroline was in a relationship with Hof for 10 years but neither she nor her family have seen him for 11 years. They had a son, Noah, who is 21.
They, and her two other children from a previous marriage, Christiaan and Nathalie, were dismayed at the prospect of a film celebrating a man she says left them traumatised.
‘For them the name Wim Hof is synonymous with years of aggression, physical violence, humiliation, manipulation’, Volkskrant reported.
‘They know the Iceman, as Hof calls himself, as a mean drunk with an explosive character and delusions of grandeur. Someone of whom they had to be permanently wary.’
Hof told the newspaper: ‘It is obvious that she’s on the warpath and now wants to make everything look different from how it was.
‘Caroline knew how to get under my skin’ he said while answering 44 questions from the newspaper. He added: ‘Because of her, I started drinking, yes.’
But he insisted he had never been violent.
MailOnline contacted Caroline and Laura for comment.
What is the the Wim Hof Method?
Hof claims his cold-water therapy can help improve health and mental well-being. But his controversial method has previously been dubbed ‘dangerous’ following a series of tragic deaths linked to the trendÂ
The Wim Hof Method claims to be a form of meditative therapy and a practical way to become healthier, happier and stronger.Â
It consists of three components – deep breathing, exposure to cold water, and a focused mindset.
He previously sat down with Femail to chat about the ‘tremendous benefits’ from the method that starts with a reconnect with nature.
‘We’re always in this state of weakening warmth, covered up in layers of clothing, and never exercising the cardiovascular system. So a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away,’ Wim said.
Wim claims you can even treat depression with cold therapy, with complete submersion leading to a 540 per cent increase in adrenaline and a 250 per cent in dopamine – both of which are known to help moderate symptoms.
‘What you will see is that your heart rate goes down during the day, reducing your stress levels. You feel more energised. The improved blood flow delivers better nutrition to your cells. You find you don’t get sick anymore,’ Wim said.
The breathing ‘activates the adrenal access to the brain, reduces inflammation, alkalises the blood, and regulates the body’.
Then, the cold ‘makes you strong from the inside out’ because millions of tiny muscles, veins and capillaries become stronger.
‘The muscles contract which allows for better blood flow, a slower heart rate and more energy,’ Wim said.
Mindset and focus is also a significant component that contributes to unlocking the health benefits by letting go of personal ego and send attention to your body instead.
‘We all have this power. When you go into the cold, you’re not thinking anymore, you’re just doing,’ Wim said.
