Former WWE star Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, has scored a huge victory outside the ring, after he won a case against the website Gawker for publishing a leaked tape showing Hogan having s*x with his best friend’s wife.
The Florida jury hearing the case awarded the legendary wrestler $115m in damages, agreeing with his argument that the release violated his privacy, and that the video was not newsworthy.
Gawker, a gossip blog as notorious as TMZ, if not moreso; argued that they were within their rights as members of the press to share the video, and that Hulk Hogan being a public figure means his private life was still newsworthy.
The case is crucial because the right to privacy of people who live their lives in the public eye has always been a slippery slope.
Gawker released the tape, which shows the former wrestler having s*x with Heather Clem, wife of his friend Bubba Clem, in 2012. Gawker did not contact either Hogan or Heather before posting the video online, and the wrestler argued he was not aware the initial tryst was being filmed.
“This is not only his victory today, but also anyone else who’s been victimised by tabloid journalism,” Hogan’s lawyer David Houston said outside the courtroom.
The jury awarded Hogan $55 million for economic injuries and $60 million for emotional distress. Gawker has vowed to appeal.

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