Page 6 - Gawker

“Plaintiff’s public persona, including the publicity he and his

family derived from a television reality show detailing their
personal life, his own book describing an affair he had during

his marriage, prior reports by other parties of the existence and

content of the Video, and Plaintiff’s own public discussion of

issues relating to his marriage, sex life, and the Video all
demonstrate that the Video is a subject of general interest and

concern to the community,” (14)

In essence, the judge agreed with Gawker that the tape was

newsworthy. What under normal circumstances would have

ended the case only lead to a ramping up of the litigation

battle.

Controversy seemed to shadow Hogan. The World Wrestling

Entertainment (W.W.E.), which had stood by him after the

disclosure of the sex tape, cut ties with him after excerpts

from other tapes that had been secretly recorded by Bubba

the Love Sponge emerged in July 12015 where he had made

racist remarks. Thereafter, lacking a major partner in the

sport, Hogan withdrew from public view.

In early 2016 Gawker had its day in court where its lawyers
who also represented the co-defendants, Denton and

Daulerio, had done their research into Hogan’s background.

They found that he had boasted about his sexual prowess,
including the size of his penis; claimed numerous

extramarital affairs, in his book and in interviews; and even

broadcast his marriage-counselling sessions on television.

However, Hogan described Terry Bollea as a real person and
Hulk Hogan as an invented character. As he testified under

direct examination, they were, he said, ‘different people’.