Hulk Hogan's Major Controversies Before His Tragic Death
Professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan passed away at age 71 following a reported cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home on Thursday, July 24.
As fans mourn the loss of the WWE Hall of Famer, many are reflecting on both his legendary career achievements and controversial personal moments.
The 12-time champion dominated professional wrestling for decades, becoming a household name through his performances and success in film and reality TV. However, Hogan's career was plagued by several high-profile scandals that generated significant media attention.
Hulk Hogan's 2012 Lawsuit
The most publicized controversy began when Gawker Media obtained a secretly recorded intimate video featuring Hogan and a friend's wife. After the website published nine seconds of the footage in 2012, Hogan initiated a $100 million civil lawsuit against the outlet.
The legal battle ended in 2016 when a Florida jury ruled that Gawker had violated his privacy rights, awarding him $140 million in damages.
"I was relieved that people actually finally believe me," Hogan told People magazine following the verdict. "So many people thought I was making a sex tape to sell as entertainment."
Hulk Hogan's Offensive Comments
A year before his courtroom victory, Hogan faced another major scandal when leaked audio transcripts revealed him using discriminatory language about his daughter Brooke Hogan's dating life in 2015.
"Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it," Hogan said to People at the time.
"This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise," he added.
Hulk Hogan's Reality TV Show Scandal
During the peak of his mainstream popularity, Hogan starred in the reality series Hogan Knows Best, which aired from 2005 to 2007. The show provided fans with an intimate look at his family life, but also exposed underlying tensions.
Just one month after the series finale, Hogan's wife LindaHogan filed for divorce after 24 years of marriage, claiming his "infidelities" as the primary reason.
The family drama resurfaced years later when Linda reportedly shared a video on Instagram Stories in March 2025, stating, "It's been 15, however long years since I left Hulk Hogan, and my family is the worst mess."
Hogan and Linda's marriage lasted from 1983 until their divorce was finalized in July 2009. Following their split, Hogan married Jennifer McDaniel in 2010, though this union also ended in divorce in 2021.
Most recently, Hogan married his third wife, Sky Daily, in September 2023, just months before his untimely death.
How Did Hulk Hogan Die?
TMZ first broke the news of Hogan's passing, reporting that emergency operators described the situation as a "cardiac arrest."
Hulk Hogan's Major Controversies Before His Tragic Death first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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