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  • Gawker Files Bankruptcy, Selling To Ziff Davis

    Gawker Files Bankruptcy, Selling To Ziff Davis

    Gawker announced today that it has filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in order to safeguard its assets and keep publishing while it appeals the $130 million Hulk Hogan verdict. Gawker also said that it has an agreement with Ziff Davis to sell all 7 of it’s brands including presumably Gawker.com. Recode is reporting that Gawker has told its employees the price is somewhat less than $100 million. The Wall Street Journal added, “The sale auction will begin with an opening bid of $90 million from the digital media company and publisher Ziff Davis LLC, according to a person familiar with the matter.” The Gawker network reportedly has 6 million readers each weekday.

    In a memo to staff, Ziff Davis chief executive Vivek Shah said the auction will likely take place at the end of July and that he expected the bankruptcy court to set a schedule to take other bids soon. “There’s a tremendous fit between the two organizations, from brands to audience to monetization. We look forward to the possibility of adding these great brands—and the talented people who support them—to the Ziff Davis family,” he said. (WSJ.com)

    Gawker founder and CEO Nick Denton tweeted about the bankruptcy filing and took a direct stab at Peter Thiel who funded Hogan’s legal team:

    Felix Salmon, Senior Editor of @fusion tweeted that Ziff Davis intends to shut down Gawker.com and focus on its other brands such as Gizmodo.

    Gawker founder and CEO Nick Denton commented in the release, “We are encouraged by the agreement with Ziff Davis, one of the most rigorously managed and profitable companies in digital media. A combination would marry Ziff Davis’ strength in e-commerce, licensing and video with GMG’s premium media brands.”

    Bankruptcy is necessary in order for Gawker to sell the business free and clear of legal liabilities at its maximum value:

    Gawker Media Group is putting its properties up for sale after a coordinated barrage of lawsuits intended to put the company out of business and deter its writers from offering critical coverage.
    The protection afforded by the bankruptcy filing will allow GMG to exercise its rights to due process. The company is confident it will ultimately prevail in the Hogan lawsuit, but was not able today to obtain from the trial court even a brief stay without onerous conditions to seek relief from the appeals court.

    The Wall Street Journal added that, “Gawker will sell its business at a bankruptcy court-supervised auction. It has arranged a $22 million bankruptcy loan to stay open pending the sale. The company listed Mr. Bollea as its largest creditor with a $130 million claim. (He was also awarded an additional $10 million in damages from Mr. Denton himself.)”

    Gawker’s release went on to recap its accomplishments over the years:

    With a distinctive commitment to journalism as an honest conversation between writers and readers, GMG is the only interactive media group to have achieved scale and profitability without outside capital. The company is a leader in online commerce, native advertising and online discussion software, but the driving force is its distinctive editorial mission.

    Writer for writer, GMG has broken more important and interesting stories than any other digital news venture.
    Gizmodo, the company’s technology flagship, has energized the debate about Facebook’s control of the news, for example. Deadspin, which provides sports news without access, has exposed the cover-up by the NFL of domestic abuse allegations against players. Lifehacker is the smartest how-to site on the web. Jezebel has defined modern feminist thinking. Jalopnik and Kotaku are among the web’s leading sources for news and reviews of cars and video games. And the flagship site itself has shone light on powerful figures from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to the new industrialists and investors of Silicon Valley.

    “Authentic writing, whether it takes the form of honest reviews of technology, video games and entertainment, or revelations about the way the system works, is more important than ever,” says Nick Denton, the founder of GMG. “We have been forced by this litigation to give up our longstanding independence, but our writers remain committed to telling the true stories that underpin credibility with our millions of readers. With stronger backing and disentangled from litigation, they can perform their vital work on more platforms and in different forms.”

  • Linda Hogan Bitter Over Hulk’s $140 Million Win In Court, Calls It ‘Dirty Money’

    Linda Hogan, Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife, is criticizing the former wrestler for taking “dirty money.” Hulk Hogan has won another $25 million in damages in relation to his multi-million dollar sex tape lawsuit against Gawker. The court initially awarded him $115 million after it was found that Gawker violated his right to privacy.

    “It made me a little bit sick,” Linda recently told Inside Edition. “I don’t know how he can sleep at night getting that money for doing what he did in a roundabout way. It’s dirty money.”

    Linda Hogan Is Disgusted by Hulk’s Court Victory

    The former wrestler’s ex-wife was upset since the scandal happened while they were still married. Linda went on to say that she felt the court is awarding the wrestler-turned TV personality for his bad behavior.

    Hulk Hogan sued Gawker for invasion of privacy after the media company uploaded his sex tape on the Internet. Hulk claimed the encounter between him and Heather Clem, Bubba “The Love Sponge’s” wife, was filmed without his knowledge. His then-best friend, Bubba “The Love Sponge,” a radio personality, allegedly recorded the video.

    The wrestler sued Gawker founder Nick Denton and ex-editor A.J. Daulerio for $100 million, but the jury decided to add $15 million to the damages. He was reportedly awarded with $55 million for economic injuries and $60 million for emotional distress.

    On Monday, after further deliberation, the jurors ordered Gawker to pay Hulk another $25 million in punitive damages – $15 million from Daulerio, Gawker’s then-editor and $10 million from Denton, the media company’s owner. The wrestler walked away with $140 million in total.

    According to reports, the additional compensation was the court’s chance to warn media companies to be responsible for their news content.

    Hulk Hogan, 62, and Linda Hogan, 56, ended their 25-year marriage in 2007.

  • Hulk Hogan’s $140 Million Win In Court

    Hulk Hogan’s fight for his privacy regarding the leaked sex tape published by Gawker a decade ago has resulted in the former WWE wrestler being awarded $140 million and he is now talking about the win for the first time.

    In an interview with The Post, the former wrestler shares that his stare down with Gawker publisher Nick Denton was what scared him the most. Nick Denton and former editor A.J. Daulerio have been named as the defendants in the wrestler’s lawsuit.

    Per reports, A.J. Daulerio thought that publishing the edited sex tape would help the website’s traffic. During cross-examination, the former editor admitted that the tape was not news-worthy at all.

    The sex tape was more than 30 minutes and Gawker released a trimmed down version that lasted for only a minute and 40 seconds. Also, only nine seconds showed the actual sex between Hulk Hogan and the wife of his then-best friend radio “shock jock” Bubba the Love Sponge.

    In his latest interview, Hulk Hogan accused Nick Denton of “buccaneering young stud A.J. (Daulerio).” He also noted how the former editor doesn’t realize how wrong he was for posting the sex tape.

    Originally, the wrestler wanted $100 million but was awarded more, summing it up to $140 million. Hulk Hogan said in his latest interview that the company actually offered him a large amount of money to settle but he wanted to stand and fight.

    Further reports also say that if Gawker can’t convince the lower court to reduce the charges, the company would be forced to close down. Currently, the online publishing company runs two other websites, namely Gizmondo.com and Jezebel.com.

  • Brooke Hogan Hits The Gym To Celebrate $115 M Lawsuit Payout With Dad

    Brooke Hogan Hits The Gym To Celebrate $115 M Lawsuit Payout With Dad

    Brooke Hogan hit up the gym over the weekend with her dad, famed wrestler Hulk Hogan, mere hours after a jury awarded the former WWE star $115 million in his lawsuit against Gawker Media.

    Hogan’s wife, Jennifer, also joined him for a workout in Clearwater, Florida, according to People Magazine, and the family kept things low-key after a lengthy court battle that involved quite a bit of media coverage.

    Hogan and Gawker have been battling things out in court for months after the media conglomerate published part of a sex tape that he says he was unaware was being made during an intimate encounter with the ex-wife of a former friend. The woman, Heather Clem, says she didn’t know they were being recorded at the time. The story involves a lot of twists and turns, many of which shocked the courtroom during the length of the trial and led to accusations and denials from several parties. The man apparently responsible for filming the intimate exchange–Todd “Bubba The Love Sponge” Clem–initially said that Hogan was aware he was being filmed at the time, but changed his story after Hogan sued him. Clem allegedly encouraged Hogan to sleep with his ex-wife, then filmed the two of them for financial gain.

    “I felt numb. The news just hit me that they told me that Bubba was on the end of the tape saying, ‘Heather, this is our retirement.’ My hands started shaking…. I could not stop shaking,” he added. “It turned my world upside down,” Hogan testified.

    Brooke Hogan hasn’t said much about her father’s ordeal publicly but has remained supportive of him over the years following his divorce from her mom, Linda. Brooke has been working hard at the gym even when her dad isn’t around, from the looks of things; she recently posted a photo on Twitter showing off her abs, saying she’s getting back to where she feels comfortable.

  • Hulk Hogan Awarded $115 Million in “Gawker” Sex Tape Trial

    Hulk Hogan Awarded $115 Million in “Gawker” Sex Tape Trial

    Hulk Hogan was awarded $115 million in a lawsuit trial against Gawker, for their posting of his sex tape online.

    “We’re exceptionally happy with the verdict. We think it represents a statement as to the public’s disgust with the invasion of privacy disguised as journalism. The verdict says no more,” Hulk Hogan’s legal team said in a statement to People magazine on Friday.

    Variety reports that the Florida jury determined Hulk Hogan–whose real name is Terry Bollea–suffered “extreme emotional distress” throughout the three years since the sex tape was posted.

    Gawker Media is already talking about filing an appeal.

    “We’re disappointed the jury was unable to see key evidence and hear testimony from the most important witness,” they said in a statement. “So it may be necessary for the appeals court to resolve this case. Hulk Hogan’s best friend Bubba the Love Sponge–who made the tape and offered up his wife in the first place–originally told his radio listeners that Hulk Hogan knew he was being taped. The jury was only able to hear a questionable version of events. Bubba should have been required to appear in court and explain what really happened.”

    “There is still more to the story,” the Gawker statement continued. “We expect the upcoming release of improperly sealed documents, important evidence that the jury should have been able to see, will begin revealing the true facts that the jury deserved to know about during deliberations.”

    David Houston, one of Hulk Hogan’s lawyers, said Bubba Clem previously testified that Hulk Hogan “had no knowledge of being filmed,” and was not involved in the sex tape’s production.

    The posting of this sex tape was at least party responsible for the end of Hulk Hogan’s 25-year marriage to wife Linda Hogan.

    Do you suppose he believes his $115 million win is worth that?

  • Hulk Hogan: Ex-Wife Linda Hogan Will Never Forgive Him for Sex Tape Scandal

    Hulk Hogan is front and center in the media these days in light of his $100 million lawsuit against Gawker for publishing his 2012 sex tape, in which he was seen having sex with the wife of his then-friend Bubba “the Love Sponge” Clem.

    Ex-wife Linda says she will never forgive him. She also doesn’t believe Hulk Hogan–whose real name is Terry Bolea–deserves any of the $100 million he is suing Gawker for.

    “My kids to this day are still reeling, and they can’t get their feet back on planet earth,” she said in a recent interview with Inside Edition. “I can’t get my life back on track either. I don’t know, what am I supposed to do? Start over now that I’m 57? I don’t know where I fit in in this world any more.”

    “I was honest, I was a good wife. I never cheated on him,” Linda added. She and Hulk Hogan filed for divorce in 2007 after both made allegations of physical abuse and affairs.

    Linda wrote a powerfully emotional letter to Hulk Hogan, which she read recently during an episode of Inside Edition.

    “YOU have single handedly ruined our 25-year marriage and our family…my trust, my love, my future, our future family with grandchildren, holidays, weddings, our kids’ lives, homes, their ability to trust, our poor animals, friends, neighbors, your career, finances, trademarks, retirement, your legacy, your reputation, your health…even your soul…You lost it ALL,” she read.

    “You took me for granted and never appreciated me or our beautiful family…blaming me for your horrendous mistakes,” she concluded. “And yet you continue in life this very way, still. Hiding behind those sunglasses, false smile, oh…and the bandana! Until you can really apologize, to me…and to our children…I will never ever forgive you.”

    Linda Hogan sounds like she means business. Do you think any of what she said will resonate with Hulk Hogan? Or is he simply too busy pointing fingers at Gawker to realize what his actions have cost him?

  • Hulk Hogan Testifies Against Bubba ‘The Love Sponge’ Clem In $100 Million Sex Tape Lawsuit

    American Wrestler Hulk Hogan gave his testimony on Monday for his $100 million invasion of privacy lawsuit against his best friend, Bubba “the Love Sponge” Clem and gossip website Gawker in relation to his 2006 sex tape.

    Hogan told the jurors that Bubba the Love Sponge had been telling him that his wife wanted to have sex with him, although the wrestler thought it was just a joke. Hogan finally gave in to their advances during the time when he was going through his divorce.

    “It was so weird and so crazy, my gut was telling me that this was off, this was wrong” Hulk Hogan testified. “From the feeling that I had, I said, ‘Bubba you’re not filming this are you?’… he lashed into me,” Hogan recounted.

    Hogan said he and Bubba had been friends for over a decade. The radio personality was a godfather to his son, and he stood by him when his father passed away and when his marriage was on the rocks.

    The wrestler said he was made aware of the sex tape when TMZ informed him of the circulating still images of the encounter. Hogan admitted that he was humiliated when the video of him having sex with his best friend’s wife was uploaded online. He was not aware that the radio personality was behind his sex video. When he learned that Bubba may have been involved in the publication of the tape, he said he “couldn’t quit shaking.”

    Hulk Hogan also said his wife’s verbal abuse lowered his self-esteem, which made him take his best friend’s offer to sleep with his wife. However, he admitted he regretted doing it.

    The jury will determine if Bubba – Todd Clem in real life – violated Hogan’s right to privacy when he published the explicit video in 2012.

  • Brooke Hogan Should Have Thrown Hulk Out “Like The Trash”, He Says

    Brooke Hogan was apparently at the center of dad Hulk’s racist tirade–which was caught on tape and recently released to the public–in 2006, but during his televised apology, Hogan says she never wavered in her support of him.

    Hulk Hogan reportedly ranted and used racial slurs during a conversation about Brooke’s then-boyfriend, which he says was taped without his knowledge. In an interview with Good Morning America, Hogan said on Monday that he’s not racist and would love another chance to perform with WWE, which kicked him out unceremoniously after the tapes were published by the National Enquirer.

    “I’m not a racist, but I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I’m embarrassed by it. But a lot of people need to realize you inherit things from your environment … I grew up in south Tampa … the word was just thrown around like it was nothing,” Hogan said.

    Hulk said in the interview that his daughter should have been ready to kick her out of her life after the incident, but she remained by his side faithfully through it all.

    “For me to vent and be so angry at her, she should have been the one — she should have been the one to throw me out like the trash. But instead, she showed me more love than anybody…She’s been so supportive… she instantly said ‘I don’t even need to forgive you’ cause I’m not mad at you. I love you. You’re my dad.’ ”

    Meanwhile, Brooke Hogan has been busy with her music career after busting onto the country scene with her hit single “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend”. Brooke says that creating songs is just as good as therapy for her.

    “I’m using my writers as my therapists. I might as well lay down on the couch and be like ‘These are my problems today’,” she said.

  • Brooke Hogan Sitting With Hulk As He Used N-Word?

    Brooke Hogan may have been right there with her dad, disgraced former WWE star Hulk Hogan, when he used the n-word in talking with her brother Nick Hogan.

    Brooke Hogan and her boyfriend at the time were already the topic of conversation in the sex tape recording that blew the whole scandal onto the headlines. Hulk Hogan said of Brooke:

    “I’d rather if she was going to f– some n–er, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n–er worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F–king n—-r.”

    But now it appears that Brooke may have actually been there when Hulk visited Nick and was caught on tape using the word again.

    Bay News 9 turned up the conversation between Nick and Hulk Hogan. Photos from jail security show a woman with him that may be Brooke Hogan.

    Hulk Hogan: “You and me been sitting on some serious phone, phone dialogue here n***a.”
    Nick Bollea: “Yeah, nibb-ah.”
    Hogan: “N***a, n***a, that means, that means you (are) my best friend.”
    Hogan: “You know that God gave you this vibe and this, this, energy that you and I are going to live forever, bro. I just hope we don’t come back as a couple, I don’t want to say it, blizz-ack gizz-uys, you know what I’m saying?”
    Bollea: “Brutal” [They both laugh]
    Bollea: “It’s down in St. Pete and it’s mixed-race and we get along with everybody, so that’s fine.”
    Hogan: “Your mom went there and said it was mainly blizz, you know what I’m sizz-aying?”
    Bollea: “Mm-hm.”
    Hogan: “And that some of the ladies there that, you know, run the school are nice blizz lizz-adies, you know?”
    Bollea: “Mm-hm…. I would go down there, I would make friends with all those kids down there. I guarantee it. Because you know how all the blizz pizz love us.”

  • Brooke Hogan in Jail With Hulk When N-Word Gets Recorded? [Pics]

    Brooke Hogan has already come to her dad’s defense over his use of the “n-word” during that unfortunate pillow talk recording. Brooke herself was the topic of that particular conversation that has now gotten Hulk Hogan fired from the WWE, nearly all trace of his career scrubbed from their websites.

    But is Brooke Hogan now in the middle of Hulk’s next scandal chapter?

    Brooke Hogan and her boyfriend at the time were on Hulk’s mind on a sex tape recording when he said:

    “I’d rather if she was going to f– some n–er, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n–er worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F–king n—-r.”

    After Hogan’s statements were made public, the WWE tossed him out on his ear.

    But another tape as surfaced, this one recorded in a jail as Brooke’s brother Nick served an eight-month sentence for a drunken driving crash that left his best friend with brain damage. Hulk Hogan is heard on the tape using the n-word yet again, this time with Nick. But photos from jail security show a woman with him that may be Brook Hogan.

    Bay News 9 turned up the conversation between Nick and Hulk Hogan.

    Hulk Hogan: “You and me been sitting on some serious phone, phone dialogue here n***a.”
    Nick Bollea: “Yeah, nibb-ah.”
    Hogan: “N***a, n***a, that means, that means you (are) my best friend.”
    Hogan: “You know that God gave you this vibe and this, this, energy that you and I are going to live forever, bro. I just hope we don’t come back as a couple, I don’t want to say it, blizz-ack gizz-uys, you know what I’m saying?”
    Bollea: “Brutal” [They both laugh]
    Bollea: “It’s down in St. Pete and it’s mixed-race and we get along with everybody, so that’s fine.”
    Hogan: “Your mom went there and said it was mainly blizz, you know what I’m sizz-aying?”
    Bollea: “Mm-hm.”
    Hogan: “And that some of the ladies there that, you know, run the school are nice blizz lizz-adies, you know?”
    Bollea: “Mm-hm…. I would go down there, I would make friends with all those kids down there. I guarantee it. Because you know how all the blizz pizz love us.”

    While Brooke may have defended her dad’s slip-up in private, telling the world that’s not what her dad is really like, was she there herself on this occasion?

  • Nick Hogan Jailhouse Tape Has Hulk Using N-Word Again [Audio]

    Nick Hogan was in jail back in 2008. The son of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan was doing an eight-month stretch over a car crash that happened when he was drinking and driving. Nick Hogan’s best friend was left with permanent brain damage as a result of the crash.

    While Nick sat in jail, he was visited regularly by his dad, Hulk Hogan. When you visit someone in jail, talking on the telephone handset through the glass, your conversations are recorded. In the wake of Hulk Hogan’s recent racist comment scandal that got him fired from the WWE, tabloids and other outlets have been digging.

    Nick Hogan probably thought his debt to society was paid, and that no one would listen through his jailhouse conversations. But when your dad is famous, no stone is left unturned.

    Bay News 9 turned up the conversation between Nick and Hulk Hogan.

    Hulk Hogan: “You and me been sitting on some serious phone, phone dialogue here n***a.”
    Nick Bollea: “Yeah, nibb-ah.”
    Hogan: “N***a, n***a, that means, that means you (are) my best friend.”
    Hogan: “You know that God gave you this vibe and this, this, energy that you and I are going to live forever, bro. I just hope we don’t come back as a couple, I don’t want to say it, blizz-ack gizz-uys, you know what I’m saying?”
    Bollea: “Brutal” [They both laugh]
    Bollea: “It’s down in St. Pete and it’s mixed-race and we get along with everybody, so that’s fine.”
    Hogan: “Your mom went there and said it was mainly blizz, you know what I’m sizz-aying?”
    Bollea: “Mm-hm.”
    Hogan: “And that some of the ladies there that, you know, run the school are nice blizz lizz-adies, you know?”
    Bollea: “Mm-hm…. I would go down there, I would make friends with all those kids down there. I guarantee it. Because you know how all the blizz pizz love us.”

    Hulk Hogan has apologized for his use of the N-word in pillow talk conversation from years ago. In the recording, now part of a litigious battle over a sex tape, Hogan is heard to say of his daughter Brooke, Nick’s sister:

    “I’d rather if she was going to f– some n–er, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n–er worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F–king n—-r.”

    After Hogan’s statements were made public, the WWE tossed him out on his ear.

    “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the company said in a statement Friday morning. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

    Hulk Hogan’s apology was heartfelt.

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”

    “This is not who I am,” the statement continues. “I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”

    But in this age of digital media and recordings, old ghosts can be dragged out of closets. Nick Hogan old jailhouse tapes have been sitting there, waiting for his dad to fall from grace.

  • Linda Hogan: Brooke Hogan Silent On Mom After Hulk’s Rant Goes Public

    Linda Hogan and her daughter Brooke haven’t always been on the best of terms, and now, after audio was released of a conversation that Hulk Hogan had several years ago and has landed him in hot water with the WWE, Brooke seems to be siding with her dad on all counts.

    Linda Hogan was one of Hulk’s targets during the conversation, which he said in a statement took place about eight years ago. He also reportedly made racial and homophobic slurs, and the backlash he received after the audio went public led to him severing ties with the WWE. Linda hasn’t released a statement about the conversation, in which Hogan talked about his fears regarding her taking their mansion after their divorce.

    “Dude, the only thing I will ever ask of you … I don’t know how you will pull this off … is, if I am ever on my death bed, you cannot let Linda come and visit me…If I get divorced, Linda will make me sell it. F**k it. Cecile (Barker) will buy it and give it back to me after the divorce,” Hogan reportedly said on the tape.

    Brooke Hogan took to Facebook after the conversation began to spread around the web, posting a poem she wrote about her dad defending him. However, she hasn’t said much about her mom recently. The two have had a rocky relationship in the past, with Brooke saying in a 2009 interview that she felt like her mom “threw her under the bus”.

    “I look at the things she’s released and said about me and I’m like, how could I ever trust her again? How could I ever look at her and be like, ‘You kind of threw me in front of the bus in front of the whole world,’” Brooke told E! News about Linda Hogan.

  • Linda Hogan Was Also Subject of Hulk Hogan Rant

    Linda Hogan, the ex-wife of dethroned WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan, was also the subject of a rant in which he made racially explicit slurs.

    “Dude, the only thing I will ever ask of you … I don’t know how you will pull this off … is, if I am ever on my death bed, you cannot let Linda come and visit me,” Hulk Hogan is heard saying of Linda Hogan in the audio transcript.

    Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is concerned in the tape about Linda Hogan getting her hands on his $4.25 million Las Vegas home.

    ”If I get divorced, Linda will make me sell it. F**k it. Cecile will buy it and give it back to me after the divorce,” Hogan is heard saying. The Cecile he refers to is SoBe Entertainment mogul Cecile Barker, who Hulk Hogan calls a “black billionaire dude.”

    The WWE fired Hulk Hogan recently for the racial slurs that hit the media when this audio transcript went viral. He also makes homophobic slurs in the audio as he rants against Linda Hogan for becoming friendly with a “half-gay guy.”

    Linda Hogan later accused Hulk Hogan of having a gay affair. He sued her for defamation, but the case was dismissed.

    Hulk Hogan has thus far ranted against black people, gays, and his ex-wife Linda Hogan.

    Who do you suppose is next in his arsenal of old comments?

  • Hulk Hogan: “God Gives His Hardest Battles To His Strongest Soldiers”

    Hulk Hogan has found himself in a firestorm of controversy since audio was leaked online of a conversation in which he used racial slurs, and this week he took to social media to thank his fans and supporters as well as to share a quote that he says encompasses his feelings.

    Hogan released a statement after the audio was released, saying it happened eight years ago and that he has grown as a person since then. However, he has severed his ties with the WWE–he says he resigned, while others say he was terminated–and says he has a legal team investigating the tape.

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs. It is not who I am. I continue to work every day to improve as a person, and this matter is an important learning experience for me in that regard. As a result I am resigning from my contractual relationship with the WWE,” Hogan said in a statement.

    Hulk Hogan is currently embattled in a lawsuit against Gawker for publishing scenes from a sex tape that was leaked online a couple of years back, and TMZ is now reporting that Hogan blames the CEO of Gawker–Nick Denton–for the leak of the audio that has offended so many. According to TMZ, Hogan thinks Gawker leaked the audio to hurt him legally; if the judge sides with Hogan in the lawsuit, Gawker could be forced to pay $100 million.

  • Hulk Hogan Apologizes For Racist Comments That Got Him Fired From WWE

    Hulk Hogan has apologized for racist comments that surfaced this week and got him fired from World Wrestling Entertainment.

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it,” Hogan told People magazine in a statement.

    “This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”

    Although Hulk Hogan was reportedly fired from the WWE, his lawyer maintains that Hogan resigned.

    “He decided to resign from WWE because he didn’t want to put them or his family through this,” David Houston said.

    According to the Los Angeles Times, Hulk Hogan will no longer wrestle for WWE after a 2012 radio interview surfaced in which the athlete uses a racially offensive language several times.

    TMZ is reporting that Hogan was let go for using the N-word on his sex tape. Hogan was reportedly angry over the person his daughter was dating at the time.

    The WWE released a statement on Friday announcing the firing of Hogan.

    “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

    Was Hulk Hogan rightfully fired from the WWE?

  • Brooke Hogan: How Does She Feel About Hulk’s Slurs About Her Boyfriend?

    Brooke Hogan has come out in support of her father, WWE legend Hulk Hogan, after his contract was terminated over a string of racial slurs.

    Brooke Hogan herself was as the center of the now-infamous conversation in which her dad was caught on tape saying, “I’d rather if she was going to f– some n–er, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n–er worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F–king n—-r.”

    After Hogan’s statements were made public, the WWE tossed him out on his ear.

    “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the company said in a statement Friday morning. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

    Hulk Hogan himself apologized.

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”

    “This is not who I am,” the statement continues. “I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”

    While Brooke Hogan has come to her father’s defense, how does she personally feel about his slurs? The recording is eight years old, and Brooke has since been engaged to and broken up with Dallas Cowboys center Phil Costa (who is white). Brooke Hogan’s poem about her dad, which she posted on Facebook, may offer some clues.

    “If you knew the dad I knew, you’d know his tender heart,” Brooke insists. “Cause If you knew the dad I knew, you’d know he raised me well. He taught me folks are so much more than shades could ever tell.”

    “It makes me sad to see my dad defeated and so tired,” Brooke admits. “Because I know my father,
    I can promise this — Just like you and I, things we don’t mean can sometimes slip.”

  • Brooke Hogan Waxes Poetic in Defense of Dad Following WWE’s Firing of Hulk Hogan

    Brooke Hogan has waxed poetic in light of WWE’s firing of her dad, Hulk Hogan. The WWE fired the famous wrestler after a racist rant laced with the N-word hit the media.

    The National Enquirer got their hands on an audio transcript from a conversation Hulk Hogan had with Heather Clem, the wife of his former buddy Bubba “The Love Sponge,” eight years ago–in which he went on an offensive tirade about his daughter Brooke Hogan.

    “I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f–k some n—-r, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n—-r worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player…I guess we’re all a little racist. F–king n—-r.”

    Hulk Hogan has since apologized for his remarks.

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it,” he said in a statement to People magazine. “This not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise.”

    Following her dad’s apology, Brooke Hogan posted her poem on her Facebook page.

    ~If You Knew My Father~

    By Brooke Bollea

    If you knew the dad I knew,
    you’d know his tender heart.

    He’d never want to hurt his fans,
    or family from the start.

    If you knew my father,
    you would know how hard he fought…

    and the way it brought a smile to people light, medium and dark.

    We always fight a battle
    that people never see,

    and sometimes when you’re hurting, you don’t think logically.

    Human isn’t perfect,
    and perfect is not he,

    but I can tell you one thing, it’s just not what it seems.

    Cause If you knew the dad I knew,
    you’d know he raised me well.

    He taught me folks are so much more
    than shades could ever tell.

    And If you knew my father,
    you would know he’s down to earth.

    He may have slammed the giant,
    but remembers life’s true worth.

    If you knew my father,
    if you just walked in his shoes…

    then you would know that microscope that comes with yellow boots.

    If you knew my father,
    you would see your own in mine.

    And if he was your father, you could never find divide.
    Cause me- I bet your father
    or someone that you love

    Maybe regrets something
    they wish they’d never done.

    So if you know my father,
    remember he’s a man,

    and you would crave relief if people judged everything you did.

    The lord says to forgive them,
    don’t be the one to stone…

    so please remember his strong arms when you were all alone.

    The lives he’s changed, the friends he’s made,
    the people he’s inspired…

    It makes me sad to see my dad
    defeated and so tired.

    If you knew my father,
    you would know just how he’s hurting…

    For he loves every one of you, regardless of your story.

    And if you met my father,
    I know he’d give you love!

    He’d lift you up, apologize and give you all a hug.

    For those who think you know my father,
    remember who you are.

    We all can make mistakes and carry ugly scars.

    Because I know my father,
    I can promise this-

    Just like you and I, things we don’t mean can sometimes slip.

    We all continue learning.
    This life can be so rough…

    So if you know my father, please try not to be tough.

    My father has a daughter,
    and I have feelings too.

    And if I knew your father, I would do the same for you.

    Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was terminated by WWE, although his attorney claims he resigned.

    “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide,” they said in a statement.

    Prior to Friday’s media firestorm, Hulk Hogan forewarned his fans with a cryptic tweet.

    Hulk Hogan is reportedly a born-again Christian, and from the feel of Brooke Hogan’s (whose real name is Brooke Bollea) poem, she shares at least some of his religious beliefs.

    It seems many people are now paying for the sins of their past. In addition to Hulk Hogan, Bill Cosby is now facing rape allegations, and Josh Duggar was the cause of his family’s reality show cancellation. TLC recently canceled 19 Kids and Counting because he sexually molested five underage girls–four of whom are his sisters–when he was a teen.

    Will Brooke Hogan’s poem soften the hearts of those who now believe her dad to be a racist?

    Or is she about to watch her dad swallowed up by a swirling media frenzy?

  • Brooke Hogan Defends Hulk After His Racist Rant Goes Public

    Brooke Hogan has posted a poem in defense of and in support of her father, Hulk Hogan, after his racist rant went public.

    Brooke Hogan was actually referred to in her father’s sex tape rant, which was exposed when muckraking specialists National Enquirer and Radar Online transcribed excerpts from a sex tape Hulk is currently in litigation over.

    “I’d rather if she was going to f– some n–er,” Hogan is heard saying on the tape, referring to Brooke, “I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n–er worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!

    When the news hit, the WWE cut ties with Hulk Hogan, scrubbing him from their website and issuing a statement.

    “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the company said. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

    Hulk Hogan issued his own apology even before Brooke responded.

    “Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it. This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”

    Brooke Hogan posted a poem about her dad to Facebook. She refers to his work over the years, bringing smiles to people “light, medium, and dark.” Presumably she means wrestling, not Hulk Hogan’s later years as a barista.

    Brooke Hogan also reminds all us sinners that, “The lord says to forgive them, don’t be the one to stone…”

    “We all can make mistakes and carry ugly scars,” Brooke says, “… things we don’t mean can sometimes slip.”

    Here is Brooke Hogan’s poem:

    ~If You Knew My Father~
    By Brooke Bollea

    If you knew the dad I knew,
    you’d know his tender heart.

    He’d never want to hurt his fans,
    or family from the start.

    If you knew my father,
    you would know how hard he fought…

    and the way it brought a smile to people light, medium and dark.

    We always fight a battle
    that people never see,

    and sometimes when you’re hurting, you don’t think logically.

    Human isn’t perfect,
    and perfect is not he,

    but I can tell you one thing, it’s just not what it seems.

    Cause If you knew the dad I knew,
    you’d know he raised me well.

    He taught me folks are so much more
    than shades could ever tell.

    And If you knew my father,
    you would know he’s down to earth.

    He may have slammed the giant,
    but remembers life’s true worth.

    If you knew my father,
    if you just walked in his shoes…

    then you would know that microscope that comes with yellow boots.

    If you knew my father,
    you would see your own in mine.

    And if he was your father, you could never find divide.

    Cause me- I bet your father
    or someone that you love

    Maybe regrets something
    they wish they’d never done.

    So if you know my father,
    remember he’s a man,

    and you would crave relief if people judged everything you did.

    The lord says to forgive them,
    don’t be the one to stone…

    so please remember his strong arms when you were all alone.

    The lives he’s changed, the friends he’s made,
    the people he’s inspired…

    It makes me sad to see my dad
    defeated and so tired.

    If you knew my father,
    you would know just how he’s hurting…

    For he loves every one of you, regardless of your story.

    And if you met my father,
    I know he’d give you love!

    He’d lift you up, apologize and give you all a hug.

    For those who think you know my father,
    remember who you are.

    We all can make mistakes and carry ugly scars.

    Because I know my father,
    I can promise this-

    Just like you and I, things we don’t mean can sometimes slip.

    We all continue learning.
    This life can be so rough…

    So if you know my father, please try not to be tough.

    My father has a daughter,
    and I have feelings too.

    And if I knew your father, I would do the same for you.

    ~If You Knew My Father~By Brooke BolleaIf you knew the dad I knew,you'd know his tender heart.He'd never want to…

    Posted by Brooke Hogan on Friday, July 24, 2015

  • Hulk Hogan’s Wife Allegedly Assaulted By Wrestler Scott Steiner

    Hulk Hogan’s wife, Jennifer, was reportedly grabbed and threatened by wrestler Scott Steiner at an airport on March 26, and has filed a police report saying that Steiner voiced a threat to kill Hogan.

    Steiner–who has had a long-running feud with Hogan–is reportedly being investigated by law enforcement officials for terroristic threatening and the exchange between him and Jennifer was apparently caught on surveillance cameras at an airport. When asked to give a comment about the situation, Steiner told TMZ, “Typical Hogan. He’s just a punk.”

    61-year old Hogan worked with Steiner during their time at TNA Wrestling, but now Steiner reportedly blames Hogan for the downfall of his career and said in 2013 that Hogan was “embarrassing” in his role of reality star.

    “TNA is definitely in jeopardy. It’s losing money and it’s ratings are bad. How can you not look at Hogan and Bischoff – they haven’t performed. Everybody has got to perform. How come they’re not accountable for the s**t they’re putting on TV? Hogan pushing his ***** **** worthless daughter who can’t sing or dance. It’s embarrassing man … TNA is losing money because they gotta pay their contracts. No way would that work in a normal business setting. They’ve been there for almost three years, and they haven’t done anything to spike the ratings. In a normal business setting, if you don’t perform you lose your job,” Steiner said.

    Hogan had Steiner banned from the WWE Hall Of Fame Ceremony in March, as well as Wrestlemania 31, which he performed at. After so many decades in the ring, Hogan said recently that many of his fans have been loyal since he first began his career, and that timing was key when it came to finding a good niche in the business.

    “I think they, first off, fell in love with the character Hulk Hogan, the all-American guy going against the Iron Sheik when it was a perfect storm when the U.S. was at odds with Iran I think. The character served well for what the storyline was pointing towards. So I think it was kind of the perfect storm of being in shape with the tan, saying I was from California and being plugged in to the right thing by Vince McMahon. I think that put me at a higher level than I could have achieved by myself by building my house one brick at a time.”

  • Why Is Hulk Hogan Getting Mentioned In Ferguson Shooting?

    After a controversial grand jury decision to not indict Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown, it’s been reported that Wilson’s testimony regarding the shooting has been made available to public. It is Wilson’s only detailed account of the incident on record. According to Wilson’s testimony, Brown became confrontational when the police officer asked him and his friend to stop walking in the middle of the street. “I’ve never seen that much aggression so quickly from a simple request to just walk on the sidewalk,” Wilson said in the testimony.

    Wilson says that Brown became even more aggressive as he was about to step out the police car to confront the teen. Brown slammed the door before Wilson got out and a struggle ensued between the two. “I tried to hold his right arm and use my left hand to get out to have some type of control and not be trapped in my car anymore,” Wilson said. “And when I grabbed him, the only way I can describe it is I felt like a five-year-old holding on to Hulk Hogan,” Wilson testified. Wilson claims that Brown punched him a couple of times

    The police officer then felt that the best course of action to defend himself was to reach for his gun. He testified that he was wearing contacts that day, so using mace inside a confined space would have blinded him. After his gun malfunctioned, he was finally able to shoot Brown who then ran away. Wilson gave chase and shot Brown a couple of more time before delivering the fatal blow to Brown’s head.

    Lori Lightfoot, a formal federal prosecutor in Chicago, said in a phone interview that Wilson still used excessive force and the prosecutor’s summary failed to show any evidence as to why Wilson had to use his gun. “Why were those shots necessary?” Lightfoot began. “That question was not answered. People are not going to feel satisfied until they understand what the evidence was and what reasonable conclusions could be drawn from that evidence.”

    Officer Darren Wilson gives his version of what happened the day he killed Michael Brown

  • Hulk Hogan: Was There an Anti-Black Dress Code at Hogan’s Restaurant?

    Hulk Hogan: Was There an Anti-Black Dress Code at Hogan’s Restaurant?

    There has been another of those non-scandal scandals afoot in the tabloids lately. This one is about famed wrestler Hulk Hogan.

    The story goes that the Hogan’s Beach restaurant in Tampa, Florida, has a dress code that discriminates against black people. A sign was posted at the restaurant that specified:

    NO Plain White T-Shirts (or otherwise oversized T-Shirts extending past the mid-thigh)
    NO Attire Containing Profanity (or otherwise deemed to be offensive by management)
    NO Sports or Sleeveless Jerseys
    NO Excessively Baggy Attire
    NO Low Hanging Pants or Shorts (pants or shorts must be worn at the waist)
    NO hats, caps or visors worn sideways or back facing (hats must be worn fully forward facing at all times)
    NO Do-Rags, Skull Caps or Bandanas
    NO Torn or Soiled Clothing
    NO Workboots [sic]
    NO Oversized or Excessive Jewelry
    NO Workout Clothing (including tracksuits, jumpsuits, sweatpants, basketball, gym or mesh shorts)
    NO Camouflage (unless with military ID)
    NO High-Top Sneakers

    Once news of this hit the Interwebs, the Hulkster himself had to make a phone call to fix the situation. This is the case, even though Hogan does not own the restaurant, he only licenses the use of his name for it.

    But it turns out that this is not a dress code for the restaurant. The sign was up for a particular party at the restaurant that had a beach party theme. The party organizers who were paying to use the restaurant had listed the dress code rules.

    “We do have promotions companies that come in and want a certain theme for their parties that they do present,” the Hogan’s Beach manager has said. “We actually don’t have a dress code here at Hogan’s Beach. That was for a specifically-themed beach party.”

    In fact, at the bottom of that sign is the statement:

    This is a beach party and beach attire is required.

    If Paul Harvey were here, he would have an appropriate sign-off for this.