Joey Swoll quits social media after Hulk Hogan tribute sparks backlash and threats
Swoll's tribute, initially shared on TikTok, featured him dressed as the late WWE star for Halloween. However, fans criticized the post as tone-deaf due to Hogan's controversial past, including his use of racial slurs to describe his daughter's former boyfriend—an incident that led WWE to terminate his contract and toy maker Mattel to stop producing Hogan-related merchandise.
The situation escalated during a livestream when viewers confronted Swoll about honoring Hogan despite his past behavior. Swoll defended his tribute, saying Hogan's good deeds should not be overshadowed by past mistakes. However, his use of the word "colored" during the discussion drew further criticism. He later posted an apology on Instagram, writing, 'I am sorry. I take full accountability as I too, am still learning and growing.' Swoll acknowledged that he became defensive and was unaware of the full extent of Hogan's past behavior.
A lot of people upset with me calling me weak and a quitter or worse. They're not wrong and I deserve it but just so we're clear and you can walk a mile in my shoes. They sent messages telling me they know where I live and they were going to unalive me. That's fine I can handle… — Joey Swoll (@TheJoeySwoll) July 30, 2025
Despite the apology, the backlash intensified. Right-wing followers accused Swoll of caving to "leftist pressure," with some unfollowing him and others calling him 'weak' or a 'quitter.' Commentators like X user Matt Walsh mocked Swoll for 'thanking leftist trolls' and accused him of appeasing the 'woke mob.'
Swoll, in a final post, stated that the threats made toward his inner circle pushed him over the edge. As of now, he has not made any additional public statements or clarified if he plans to return to social media.
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