WWE News: Hulk Hogan suing radio personalities for defamation related to his sex tape

What’s the Story?

Former WWE superstar Hulk Hogan is pursuing another lawsuit against Tampa Bay radio hosts regarding his leaked sex tape from 2012 according to a report by ABC.

In Case You Didn’t Know

A sex tape with Hogan and the wife of radio personality, Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, was made in 2007 and released in 2012. However, the tape caused greater controversy when audio was leaked of Hogan using racial slurs against African Americans.

The Heart of the Matter

Hogan filed suit against Florida radio personalities Mike ‘Cowhead’ Calta & Matt ‘Spice Boy’ Loyd of 1025 The Bone, their radio show owner, Cox Radio, and the media outlet Gawker back in 2016 for the alleged dissemination of the sex tape, but the case will now proceed to trial.

The complaint against Calta and Loyd from Hogan was that both men were involved in a conspiracy to ruin Hogan’s reputation and to extort him as well as violating Florida’s Security of Communications Act.

A Pinellas County court judged ruled last week that the lawsuit will move forward and despite the defendants asking the judge to throw the case out.

Calta and Loyd refused to answer the allegations from Hogan and have been ordered by the judge to respond within 20 days.

The audio of Hogan using racial slurs resulted in WWE severing ties with the former WWE Champion and removing any mentions of him on their website and the WWE Network.

Hogan successfully sued Gawker for $100 million, but is unlikely to collect due to the company filing for bankruptcy and being sold after the verdict was announced.

What’s Next?

With the case proceeding to trial and a judge compelling Calta and Loyd to answer the allegations against them, this progression of this court case will be interesting.

Author’s Take

The racial slurs Hogan was heard saying has had an immense impact on his legacy and has not been easily forgotten by fans.