The following article includes allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Bobby Hull married figure skater Joanne McKay in 1960, and although they were legally married until 1980, the couple had separated in 1970. The two went to court over finances while divorcing which made headlines at the time. “Both of them were spending money like drunken sailors,” court justice Joseph O’Sullivan told the press, per UPI. The court had awarded McKay $640,000 — which was believed to be half of Hull’s net worth — plus they ordered the hockey star to pay $4,000 a month to his ex. Hull appealed this ruling, and his lawyer argued that the Winnipeg Jets star should only pay $356,000 to his ex-wife, as his net worth was much lower than the $1.1 million the court believed it to be. The public divorce led to a memorable quote from Hull. “My wife made me a millionaire. I used to have $3 million,” he said, via The Oklahoman.
Read Related Also: Queensland woman loses everything in 'suspicious' bushfire
Allegations of abuse had been levied by Hull’s ex-wife. Speaking to ESPN Classic, McKay detailed an especially harrowing encounter where she claimed Hull assaulted her during a trip to Hawaii in 1966.
In 2010, while discussing his messy divorce, Hull tried to remain diplomatic. “Put it behind me. It happens. We’re two people who tried to make a go of it, and it doesn’t work,” he told the National Post when asked about his infamous break up. Hull added that he was bothered that McKay kept “Hull” as her middle name. “You don’t f***ing like me, what are you doing using my name.”
