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Hulk Hogan awarded $115m in Gawker sex tape case | Hulk Hogan awarded $115m in Gawker sex tape case |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A Florida jury has awarded Hulk Hogan $115m (£79m) after the gossip news website Gawker published a sex tape of the retired professional wrestler. | A Florida jury has awarded Hulk Hogan $115m (£79m) after the gossip news website Gawker published a sex tape of the retired professional wrestler. |
Mr Hogan's legal team argued the New York-based website violated his privacy and the video was not newsworthy. | Mr Hogan's legal team argued the New York-based website violated his privacy and the video was not newsworthy. |
The case, which pitted freedom of the press against a celebrity's right to privacy, has been closely watched. | The case, which pitted freedom of the press against a celebrity's right to privacy, has been closely watched. |
The video was posted in 2012 after Mr Hogan was secretly recorded having sex with his friend's wife. | The video was posted in 2012 after Mr Hogan was secretly recorded having sex with his friend's wife. |
Lawyers for Gawker argued that although jurors might find the website's actions distasteful, the concept of freedom of the press was more important to uphold. | Lawyers for Gawker argued that although jurors might find the website's actions distasteful, the concept of freedom of the press was more important to uphold. |
Mr Hogan's lawyers said Gawker did not contact him or the woman in the video before the video was published. | Mr Hogan's lawyers said Gawker did not contact him or the woman in the video before the video was published. |
"This is not only his victory today, but also anyone else who's been victimised by tabloid journalism," Hogan lawyer David Houston said outside the courtroom. | "This is not only his victory today, but also anyone else who's been victimised by tabloid journalism," Hogan lawyer David Houston said outside the courtroom. |
Gawker, known for its acerbic tone and aggressive coverage of celebrities, maintained that Mr Hogan's private life was newsworthy because he made it part of his public persona. | Gawker, known for its acerbic tone and aggressive coverage of celebrities, maintained that Mr Hogan's private life was newsworthy because he made it part of his public persona. |
"He has consistently chosen to put his private life out there, for public consumption," Gawker's lawyer Michael Sullivan said during the trial. | "He has consistently chosen to put his private life out there, for public consumption," Gawker's lawyer Michael Sullivan said during the trial. |
However, Hogan lawyer Kenneth Turkel said during the trial that Gawker typified the often anything-goes world of internet publishing. | However, Hogan lawyer Kenneth Turkel said during the trial that Gawker typified the often anything-goes world of internet publishing. |
The verdict could lead to more caution among Internet news websites, which frequently have less editorial oversight than traditional media outlets. | The verdict could lead to more caution among Internet news websites, which frequently have less editorial oversight than traditional media outlets. |
Gawker's founder Nick Denton and journalist AJ Daulerio were held liable in the lawsuit. | Gawker's founder Nick Denton and journalist AJ Daulerio were held liable in the lawsuit. |
Mr Denton has said he will appeal against the verdict, arguing that important evidence was not heard by the court. | |
Mr Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, said the release of the sex tape hurt his career. | Mr Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, said the release of the sex tape hurt his career. |
He was one of the most popular professional wrestlers of the 1980s and 1990s and later starred in his own reality television show with his family. | He was one of the most popular professional wrestlers of the 1980s and 1990s and later starred in his own reality television show with his family. |
In recent years, Mr Hogan's personal problems have conflicted with his one-time child-friendly persona. | In recent years, Mr Hogan's personal problems have conflicted with his one-time child-friendly persona. |
His longtime employer World Wrestling Entertainment cut ties with Mr Hogan in July after he was recorded using racial slurs. | His longtime employer World Wrestling Entertainment cut ties with Mr Hogan in July after he was recorded using racial slurs. |