Hulk Hogan is seeking $100 million in damages after Gawker released sex tapes that included himself and Bubba The Love Sponge’s then-wife Heather Clem. Both sides appeared in court this week to begin jury selection. The jury is set with six jurors (two men and four women) and three alternates.
The trial will officially begin on Monday with opening statements.
Both Hogan and Gawker’s camps released statements on Friday, which you can read here.
Hogan: “We are exceptionally happy with the quality of people that showed up for the jury selection process. Not only were they engaged, they were honest, and competent. We are lucky to have had so many dedicated individuals from which to choose,” Hogan’s lawyer David Houston told Fox News. “We believe we have a fantastic jury. They all seem to recognize the importance of the rights of privacy and boundaries as it concerns issues surrounding the First Amendment.”
Gawker: “We are defending the First Amendment against Hulk Hogan’s effort to create a world where celebrities can promote themselves around any topic, in this case sex, and then veto how the media covers their lives. This tape shows Hulk Hogan having sex with his best friend’s wife, and in fact the tape was made by his best friend Bubba who also appears in the video. Hulk Hogan bragged about his sex life for years, denied this particular sexual encounter and now thinks his own choices are worth $100 million somehow.”
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
