Hulk Hogan is no Erin Andrews.
Yet the two celebrities share something in common. They’ve both received mammoth jury awards after they sued for invasion of privacy.
Andrews’ award has been universally hailed after a jury granted her $55 million in a suit against a hotel chain; she was video recorded in the nude in her hotel room.Ā The ESPNĀ reporterĀ was embarrassed to tears during the trial over the incident — in which the video went viral.
Hogan’s case is quite a bit different.
Gawker.com video recorded Hogan — the well-known former professional wrestler — having sex with his best friend’s wife. That video, too, went viral. Hogan — whose real name is Terry Bollea — sued for invasion of privacy.
A St. Petersburg, Fla., jury today gave the Hulkster $115 million. More than twice the award Erin Andrews got!
I offered a view about Hogan’s suitĀ in an earlier blog.
I backed his lawsuit because his case also seemed to be as legitimate as Andrews’.
However, I just cannot muster up the level of sympathy for the Hulkster as I can for Andrews. I mean, come on! The guy was engaging in some truly disgusting behavior when someone recorded him.
Maybe the St. Pete jury was trying to send some sort of message to would-be stalkers and gawkers. It is that even celebrity pro wrestlers have a level of privacy that shouldn’t be breached.
Whatever the case, I’m not going to cheer this verdict the way I did the earlier one.
