Here’s How Hulk Hogan Wrestled $140M Away from Gawkerr
By now you have probably heard that in March 2016, Hulk Hogan won a $140 million verdict against Gawker Media, an online media company and blog network. Here is a quick overview of what happened: Hulk Hogan’s real name is Terry Bollea. In 2012, Gawker Media posted a video of Mr. Bollea (Hulk Hogan) having sex with his former friend’s now ex-wife. Despite multiple requests to have the the video taken down, Gawker refused. Eventually Hogan filed suit and the case went to trial. In general, people who are deemed to be “public figures” have a lower expectation of privacy than we mere mortals do. At trial, Gawker argued that Hulk Hogan is a public figure and therefore posting and maintaining that video on their site did not invade his privacy. Hulk Hogan disagreed and said the video was not his public persona, Hulk Hogan, but rather a video of Terry Boella as a private citizen in his private capacity. The jury agreed with Hogan/Boella and awarded him $140 million in damages. So, Hulk gets the money and all is well that ends well, right? Not so fast. Gawker filed bankruptcy after the verdict and has appealed the case. There are talks of settlement but so far nothing. PROOF will keep an eye out and keep you posted on any developments.