Published : Oct. 16, 2012 - 16:12
Reality TV star and former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, right, whose real name is Terry Bollea, leaves the United States Courthouse with his attorney David Houston after a news conference Monday. (AP-Yonhap News)
Former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan sued a disc jockey, the DJ's ex-wife and a gossip website Monday after a sex tape involving Hogan and the woman was posted online.
Hogan said in two lawsuits that he had consensual sex with his best friend's wife, Heather Clem, about six years ago in the Clemses' home, but he did not know he was being secretly recorded.
“Mr. Hogan had a reasonable expectation of his privacy, just as all Americans have a reasonable expectation of their privacy in their bedrooms,” attorney Charles Harder said.
The video was posted on the online gossip site Gawker. Hogan is seeking $100 million in damages from the New York-based media company, which declined comment.
It's unclear who gave the video to Gawker.
In the suit against the Clemses, Hogan claimed the video caused “severe and irreparable injury which cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages.” Hogan is seeking the rights to the video in both lawsuits.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, wore a tight black T-shirt, black pants and dark sunglasses as he stood outside of the federal court in Tampa while his attorneys spoke to the media. He did not comment.
It's not clear whether Hogan and Bubba the Love Sponge Clem are still friends. The Clemses have since divorced.
Hogan acknowledged on various TV talk shows recently that he had sex with Heather Clem while he was married to Linda Hogan. The Hogans have also divorced.
Hogan, his ex-wife and the couple's son and daughter have appeared on the reality show “Hogan Knows Best.”
Stephen Diaco, a lawyer for Clem, said Hogan was the best man at the Clemses' wedding and he is also a godfather to their child.
“My hope is that these two can preserve their friendship,” said Diaco. “I can't comment on the suit. This has caused harm to Bubba and he didn't release it, he didn't condone the release of it. He wants to find out who did that and he wants that person to be held accountable.”
It is illegal in Florida to record someone without their permission, but Hogan waited too long to file criminal charges. (AP)
절친 부인과 하루밤 보냈다가 영상 유출!
전 프로레슬러 헐크 호건이 15일 자신의 비밀 성관계 비디오를 온라인에 올린 사건과 관련하여 절친관계를 유지해온 DJ와 DJ의 전 부인 그리고 한 가십 웹사이트를 대상으로 손해배상 소송을 제기했다.
호건은 두 건의 소송에서 6년 전 절친한 친구였던 부바 클렘의 부인이었던 히더와 친구의 집에서 상호 합의하에 성관게를 가졌으나 그것이 비밀리에 녹화되는 줄은 몰랐다고 주장했다.
문제의 비디오는 뉴욕에 본사를 두고 있는 가십 사이트 고커에 올랐는데 호건은 이 회사에 1억 달러의 배상을 요구하고 있다.
문제의 비디오를 누가 고커에 넘겨줬는지는 아직 확인되지 않고 있다.
호건은 소장에서 "문제의 비디오가 엄청나고 회복할 수 없는 상처를 주었으며 그 상처는 돈으로 충분히 배상할 수 없는 것"이라고 주장했다.
클렘 부부는 그후 이혼했으며 호건이 부바 클렘과 여전히 친구관계에 있는 지는 분명하지 않다. 호건은 자신의 불륜을 여러 차레 시인했으며 부인과 이혼했다.
플로리다 주에서 당사자의 허가를 받지 않고 녹화를 하는 것은 불법이지만 호건은 불륜 사실이 불거진 후 한참 시간이 지난 후에야 소송을 제기한 점은 의문으로 남아있다.