Hulk Hogan (1953 -2025) - Not Just For Entertainment

 Through "Hulk Hogan v Gawker," a pop-culture celebrity - Terry Gene Bollea - became a change agent in digital media. It was about an invasion of privacy.

Through the $140 million verdict jurors in Florida sent the message to all media - not just Gawker - that some lines couldn't be closed. Smug Gawker, which had some very important people terrified, went out of business. 

The rest of media realized that their malpractice insurance wasn't enough for the snarky platforms to risk, you bet, crossing some lines. That was 2016 and there ended the era of reckless mocking of whoever and whatever by online publications. 

In addition, the public got an introduction to a version of litigation financing. Billionaire Peter Thiel, whose alternate sexuality Gawker outed, pitched in to pay for the litigation. 

Lawyer Charles Harder went on from there to represent Melania Trump in a defamation complaint. 

Hogan chose his enemy wisely. Gawker's meanspirited ways turned off many, even those initially dazzled by its innovative tone and content. Back in 2004, the Wonkette, authored by Ana Marie Cox, delved into DC antics and secrets. We loved it. That was then.

There is that old adage in business: Nothing fails like success. Gawker seemed to become intoxicated with its influence and power. For several years it featured a committee meeting on Fridays to determine if I would receive clemency for a crime I never figured out that I committed. When granted a stay of execution social media broke out with a vilification of that decision. I was judged not worthy to be saved. I didn't take legal action because the drama boosted traffic to my blogs.

Hogan has passed over, age 71. That's "young" these days. But he had a made a difference and that was way beyond entertainment. 

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