Just when you thought the Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker saga was finally over, ABC Action News in Tampa Bay revealed that Hogan and his legal team have set their sights on a few Bay Area radio personalities for their involvement in the infamous Gawker sex tape leak, and more specifically, defamation of character.
A verdict was reached in the original Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker trial back in March of 2016. The jury awarded Hogan around $115 million in damages from Gawker Media, and founder Nick Denton, along with editor A.J. Daulerio. Gawker was held responsible for leaking a Hulk Hogan sex tape to the general public, along with footage of a racist and homophobic rant by Hogan from the same night that surfaced months later. The trial forced Gawker into bankruptcy and would eventually lead to the sale of the company.
With Gawker bankrupt and unable to afford the $100+ million owed to Hogan, the two parties came to a $31 million settlement agreement in November of 2016. The mainstream popularity of the trial led to a Netflix documentary that highlighted the absurdity of the case, and the passage of time has led to rumors about Hogan’s potential return to WWE for the better part of the last year.
While Hogan’s case with Gawker is over, The Hulkster has found a few new targets. According to ABC Action News in Tampa Bay, Hogan is claiming that Bay Area radio personalities Mike “Cowhead” Calta and Matt “Spice Boy” Loyd had some involvement in the sex tape leak, although we don’t know exactly what that involvement is.
Last week a Pinellas County court judge has ruled that a defamation lawsuit filed by Hogan against Mike ‘Cowhead’ Calta will move forward. The ABC Action News I-Team has been going through the court documents for the latest in the case.
Hogan is suing Calta – morning host on 1025 The Bone, his former co-worker Matt ‘Spice Boy’ Loyd and the owner of ‘The Bone,’ Cox Radio. At the center of the litigation – a 2007 sex tape recorded by Hogan’s former best friend, another well-known Bay area radio personality – Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.
The closest thing we have to a real allegation is Hogan’s claim that Calta and Loyd helped in the “stealing, disseminating, using and exploiting illegally-recorded video,” but that description lacks any real detail. The judge has ordered Calta and Loyd to respond to Hogan’s allegations within 20 days, so we’ll have more information soon.
