Hulk Hogan has settled his lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge, over a sex tape scandal, but there are still more lawsuits to come against Bubba’s ex-wife and Gawker Media. Bubba the Love Sponge is Todd Alan Clem, host of The Bubba the Love Sponge Show on Cox Radio and RadioIO.
Financial terms of the settlement were not released. Clem, from Warsaw, Indiana, started his radio career on Indiana State University’s WISU-FM. Clem has been married twice, once to Heather Clem. He filed for divorce from Heather Clem on September 15, 2011.
In early 2012, Clem was in the news for having filmed his then-wife Heather Clem and Hulk Hogan having sex in his bedroom. On October 4, 2012, Gawker Media released a clip of the video. In the video, Clem can be heard saying Heather Clem and Hulk Hogan can “do their thing” and he will be in his office. According to a Gawker news article, after Hulk Hogan left the room in the video, Clem reportedly said to his then-wife: “If we ever did want to retire, all we’d have to do is use this footage.”
Clem released an apology after the settlement, stating he now believes Hogan had no idea he was being recorded and Hulk Hogan did not play a part in releasing the tape. According to TMZ: “It is my belief that Hulk is not involved, and has not ever been involved, in trying to release the video, or exploit it, or otherwise gain from the video’s release in any way.” Clem closed his apology letter by saying he is “committed to helping Hulk and his attorneys find whoever is responsible for the release of the tape.”
Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker Media for publishing the tape is for $100 million. He seeks damages from Clem’s ex-wife. The internet has made it easier for people to watch famous individuals have sex.
Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Gene Bollea, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). On December 18, 1983, Hulk Hogan married Linda Claridge, but the marriage ended and Claridge claimed to the public she made the decision to end her marriage after finding out Hulk Hogan had an affair.
When the sex tape released in April 2012, Hulk Hogan told Howard Stern on a radio show: “It was a bad choice and a very low point.” Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge and Heather Clem was for invading his privacy.