Linda Hogan Kinda Sick Over Hulk’s $115M Verdict

Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife Linda Hogan was speaking with “Inside Edition” even before the wrestler won his lawsuit against Gawker Media and was awarded a $115 million verdict on Friday, March 19, 2016. Before the verdict rolled in, she voiced her beliefs that her ex-husband didn’t deserve any money.

Now a shocked Linda says the verdict made her “a little bit sick.” She thinks it’s dirty money and compared it to him being “rewarded for bad behavior.” As an aggrieved ex-spouse, perhaps her reaction is understandable. The lawsuit was over a clip of Hulk having sex with Heather Clem, the former wife of radio shock jock “Bubba the Love Sponge” Clem. Bubba was supposedly Hulk’s best friend. Both Hulk and Heather testified at the trial that, unbeknownst to them, Bubba recorded their tryst. Gawker later published a clip of the recording.

Linda Hogan also said she believes Erin Andrews $55 million verdict may have had something to do with the outcome in Hulk’s case. Maybe it did, when you think about it, as a sort of guideline. Erin Andrew’s privacy was invaded by Michael David Barrett. He stalked Andrews and rented a room adjoining hers at a Nashville Marriott. He then tampered with a peephole and videotaped her in the nude after she took a shower. Despite its denial of liability for a guest’s unknown bad intentions, the jury held the hotel chain partly responsible.

In this case, Gawker Media and its associates directly chose to violate Hulk Hogan’s privacy rights with claims of free speech, free press and “newsworthy” blather. Maybe that’s why Hulk was awarded more than double the Andrews verdict. Already planning its appeal, Gawker now has a lot more to deal with. On Monday, March 21st, Florida jurors awarded Hulk $25.1 million in punitive damages. $15 million is to be paid by Gawker Media; $10 million by Gawker founder Nick Denton; and $100,000 by A.J. Daulerio, then-editor of the Gawker site Deadspin that posted the video.

We could probably wind this up with a funny “whatcha gonna do” quip, but for all the parties in the Hulk Hogan lawsuit, it’s a lot more like whatcha NOT gonna do.