Hof’s promotion of cold water training to boost health has made him a celebrity across the world, with millions following in his footsteps. In 2022, the annual report of Hof Holding showed a profit of €6 million.
Strangulation
In 2012 he was fined and given a community service order for abusing his stepson who claimed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. His ex-partner accused Hof of sexual abuse and strangulation and said the abuse continued during her pregnancy.
In a response, Hof denied the allegations. “It’s clear she is on the warpath and trying to present a different version of what happened,” he said.
Hof told show programme RTL Boulevard he was “not a violent man”. He and his partner had “their differences” he admitted but the domestic abuse accusations were based on “jealousy, bitterness and envy,” Hof said.
London-based Genesius Pictures, which has since removed the announcement of The Iceman from its website, said the allegations were serious enough to reconsider production of the film, in which Hof was to be played by Joseph Fiennes.
According to a description on the website of partner Cornerstone Pictures, the film was to portray Hof as “a widower who worked as a postman and struggled to support his four children” in an “inspiring and moving true story”.
Earlier this year Hof was cleared of causing the death of a 17-year-old American teenager who was found at the bottom of a pool by her father, who claimed she had been practising breathing exercises promoted by Hof.
