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HULK HOGAN VS. GAWKER TRIAL TO KICK OFF THIS MONTH

Hulk Hogan's $100 million lawsuit against Gawker.com over the leaking of clips from the sex tape of himself and the former Heather Clem is going to trial. Jury selection began today in Tampa, Florida.

Hogan, at the time the tape was made, was not aware he was being filmed.  The tape was stolen from the office of his former best friend, Bubba the Love Sponge, by a former staffer who then leaked clips and attempted to sell the tape.  The FBI eventually became involved in the case.

Gawker published a review of the tape and posted snippets of the video edited together.  Hogan claims that the website invaded his privacy while Gawker has stated that the footage was "newsworthy"  because Hogan had spoken publicly about his sex life in the past, opening the door for the website to cover the tape.  Gawker have painted the situation as a First Amendment issue and that they had the right to publish the story from a journalistic standpoint.  They have out and out stated that should they lose the case, it will be the end of them as a business. 

Hogan told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, "I have never been afraid to fight for what I think is right, I promised in the beginning that I would see this through to the end to hold Gawker accountable. And I will."

Hogan's attorneys claimed in court last year that his wrestling career was "over" due to the July 2015 leak of footage from the tapes, which had been marked confidential by the court, featuring Hogan using racial and homophobic slurs, which led to Hogan being let go by WWE, which severed all ties with him and as of this writing, has maintained their distance.

Earlier today, Hogan Tweeted the following:

 

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