The Internet has been quite focused on Hulk Hogan lately, after he took Gawker Media to court over his leaked sex tape. Recently, he was awarded more than $100 million, with another decision still to be made regarding punitive damages that he is entitled to. Predictions for the final outcome of the case vary wildly, but many expect the total damages to go over $500 million, making the future existence of Gawker questionable.
The company’s value is in the $200-300 million range depending on which reports one considers, which means that even with the initial $115 million verdict, they still risk having to face bankruptcy. In the least, they would have to sell off many of their assets in an environment where they would be significantly devalued due to the incident. The general consensus is that the network is on its way out soon.
It all started with a leaked video showing the celebrity in a compromising situation. While several publications are rumored to have received the video as well, Gawker were the ones who chose to publish it and brought the story into the spotlight. Subsequently, a judge ordered the network to take the post down. Gawker’s response was a post that openly defied the court order, which many saw as the final nail in their coffin. Whatever one’s stance on freedom of speech might be, publicly refusing to comply with a court order rarely ends well for anyone.
And while the majority of Internet users seem supportive of Hogan – without doubt partly due to the reputation of Gawker themselves – some are also expressing concern over the implications of this case. In the eyes of “the opposition”, it’s not the court’s job to determine whether something is newsworthy or not, and this case could set unpleasant precedents for the future.
The argument started during a period when people are particularly sensitive regarding anything that has to do with free speech and privacy. The dangers of government control over the media have been a hot topic lately, but it’s interesting to note that this case can actually be seen as a clash between two sides that are both ultimately fighting for one thing.
On one hand, there are those worried about the erosion of privacy and personal space. To them, Hogan’s win is an important one as the star was defending his right to privacy. But on the other hand, there are also those who don’t enjoy the idea that the government can tell a news publication to delete something.
Obviously, the case is complicated in many ways and the fact that it involves such high-profile people on both sides doesn’t help either. But in the end, the court has a purpose and that is to resolve conflicts, and we don’t doubt that the final verdict will take all those nuances in consideration. Some even predict that Gawker may still have a chance, but they will have to put a lot of effort in their defense if they want to appeal.
Some people commenting on the situation seem convinced that Gawker’s main mistake was not in the actual leaking of the tape or the refusal to take down the post, but in their callous attitude throughout the ordeal. According to those opinions, the verdict could have been a lot different had the company portrayed themselves in a humbler light. Because this would have gone directly against one of the offensive strategies of Hogan’s lawyers.