Terry Gene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, entrepreneur and rock bassist. (Photo : Instagram/HulkHogan)
Ex-wrestler Hulk Hogan was all tears when Florida civil jury of four women and two men sided with him, and awarded him $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, brought the case three years ago after Gawker published a portion of the video that the wrestler claimed was allegedly made without his knowledge. The video showed Hogan engaged in sexual intercourse with Heather Clem, the then-wife of his best friend.
The video was accompanied by an article by Gawker's then editor-in-chief A.J. Daulerio about celebrity sex and a vivid play-by-play of the encounter between Hogan and Clem in 2012. It was viewed more than seven million times. The website was also accused of not contacting Hogan or Clem before the video was published.
The larger-than-life wrestler argued that Gawker violated the privacy he expected in his friend's bedroom, and the video was not even newsworthy, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
During the trial, Hogan claimed that the leaked sex tape turned his world upside down since both he and Clem did not know that they were being filmed when they had sex in his friend's master bedroom. Hogan also claimed that the release of the sex tape affected his career.
On the other hand, Gawker's attorney insisted that although jurors might find the website's actions in bad taste, freedom of the press is more important to uphold. The media also claimed that Hogan's private life was the part of his persona that was publicized in reality TV show he produced with his family called "Hogan Knows Best."
The media company also claimed that Hogan had an ulterior motive for the lawsuit behind the sex tape.
However, it was not conclusively determined during the trial who leaked the video to the media. DJ Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, Heather's husband who reportedly recorded the video, invoked his right to not incriminate himself and was not called as a witness.
Meanwhile, Hogan seemed relaxed as he hit the gym in Clearwater, Florida, alongside his daughter, Brooke Hogan and wife Jennifer McDaniel, People reported.
Meanwhile, watch the recording of the court trial below:
