I’m sitting here watching the Hulk Hogan vs Gawker Media trial live online, and The Hulkster is actually testifying as we speak. I’ll come back later and post my thoughts on the day’s proceedings. I’ve just now started watching it, so I missed the opening statements and Hulk’s earlier testimony. I’ll post some recaps of that material down below later on.
"He has imperfections. He has flaws. He makes mistakes…" Hogan's lawyer describing Hulk's attempts to put over Kidman, obvs. #HulkvsGawk
— Fidel Sasstro (@Sempervive) March 7, 2016
Hogan attorney is listing his client's accomplishments. Among them: 3rd WrestleMania, body slamming Andre the Giant #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 7, 2016
Attorney: Denton "grew up with parents who had seen first hand what happens when speech is suppressed," mom survived Holocaust #hulkvsgawk
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 7, 2016
(Lol, OK, Denton.)
Hogan seems to be having a pretty good time recounting his career. We're on to "this horrible character the Iron Sheik." #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 7, 2016
Hulk Hogan attorney asks if he was athletic as a child? No, he says. He was a large son. #hulkvsgawk
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 7, 2016
Hogan says he doesn't just wear his bandana b/c it's his trademark, recalls how how his first wife mocked him for his baldness. #hulkvsgawk
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 7, 2016
Statement from Hogan attorney David Houston (who will be a witness in #hulkvsgawk) on Gawker's opening statement: pic.twitter.com/j6wl2gbhB2
— Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/TamaraLush/status/706926719261941760
More on this morning’s proceedings, from CNN Money…
When Gawker published a portion of Hulk Hogan’s sex tape in 2012, the gossip site did so to “harm” the former professional wrestler.
That was the message from Hogan’s attorney Shane Vogt to jurors on Monday, as Hogan’s $100 million civil trial against Gawker Media kicked off in St. Petersburg, Florida. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was dressed all in black, including a silver crucifix on a chain and his trademark bandana. He will testify later Monday.In his opening statement, Shane Vogt characterized Gawker as an amoral news outlet, guided by the twin principles of “power and profit.” Former editor A.J. Daulerio, who posted the sex tape excerpts three-and-a-half years ago, is a defendant in the case, along with Gawker founder Nick Denton.
Denton’s editorial philosophy, according to Vogt, is to “level the playing field, to bring down people like Mr. Bollea — entertainers, celebrities, sports stars.”
“What we’re going to prove to you is that they intended to harm him,” Vogt said…
“The plaintiff’s name in this case is Terry Bollea. He is known professionally as Hulk Hogan, but the plaintiff is Terry Bollea, and he is a man,” Vogt told the jurors. “The defense may try to weave them together. He is a human being, he has imperfections, he has flaws, he makes mistakes.”
“[Hogan] will also tell you there is still a private side of his life, and that the private side of his life is even more important to him because there are so few places he can feel safe,” continued Vogt. “One of those places is his home and the other is his best friend’s house.”
Vogt attempted to re-tell Hogan’s life story from humble beginnings in a low-income neighborhood in Tampa to his role as “Thunderlips” in Rocky III to body slamming Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania to his recent health issues. “Celebrity is a very loose term that is thrown around,” he said. “Some people fall into it.”
As for Gawker, Vogt said it was no accident that the sex tape was published there of all places, noting Denton’s reputation and past commentary about what he likes to post. Vogt pointed to a Denton tweet where anything “true and interesting” became fair game and mentioned how Gawker had also covered nude pictures of Jennifer Lawrence and others. He portrayed the Hogan post as a form of “viral marketing,” and said the “higher purpose here wasn’t truth but rather money and power and an intent to harm.”
Hogan talking about how his lawyer was his only real friend is really sad to hear. #hulkvsgawk
— David Bixenspan (@davidbix) March 7, 2016
"My wife had taken off with my kids at that time, and the only thing I had left was this camaraderie with … Bubba" #hulkvsgawk
— RonMwangaguhung (@RonMwangaguhung) March 7, 2016
Lawyers conferencing with the judge, audio muted and camera showing state seal. #HulkvsGawk
— Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) March 7, 2016
Gawker's attorney is beginning the cross-examination.https://t.co/eBlcUmrzpS#HulkvsGawk
— Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) March 7, 2016
Gawker's attorney tripping up Hogan a little bit on some of the inconsistencies with his story.#HulkvsGawk
— Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) March 7, 2016
Hogan making a delineation between "Hulk" & Terry Bollea.
Gawker attorney asks if you don't have to tell the truth when Hulk? #HulkvsGawk
— Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) March 7, 2016
Trial concludes for the day. Tomorrow morning we'll pick back up with cross examination of Hogan. #hulkvsgawk
— Anna Phillips (@annamphillips) March 7, 2016
The trial is over for today. As Ms. Phillips said, we’ll pick back up tomorrow with Hogan’s cross-examination. The Gawker attorney was doing pretty well so far, but we’ll see what happens from here. Follow this link to see videos from earlier in the day, including opening statements.