Former pro-wrestler, actor and tv personality, Hulk Hogan, has won $115m over the publication of a sextape by gossip website Gawker.
Hogan was secretly recorded having sex with his friend's wife. Gawker published the video in 2012. Lawyer for the star, David Houston, said "This is not only his victory today, but also anyone else who's been victimised by tabloid journalism."
The defence team had argued that Hogan, real name Terry Bolea, had regularly publicly discussed his private life including his sex life, and it followed that publication of the tape was not a step too far – especially in light of the broad free speech laws which operate in the United States. The First Amendment vigourously protects Freedom Of Expression which includes the rights to freedom of speech, and of the press.
But the jury wasn't buying it and awarded against what Hogan's team described as a company typifying the often anything-goes world of internet publishing.
In July last year, Gawker reluctantly removed an online article outing an executive of media brand Condé Nast. The story, without any news merit other than salaciousness, was widely condemned by Gawker readers who often rejoice in journalistic envelope pushing.
In discussing the meeting of the Freedom Of The Press and the right to privacy, blogger and journalism professor Jeff Jarvis told the BBC that just because something can be published doesn't mean it should.
Less expensive body slam. Hulk Hogan body slams Andre The Giant during his wrestling career.
