If you've spent any time in a wrestling ring—or just on the internet—you know that rumors have a way of living forever. They're like that one heel who refuses to stay down. The question of whether Hulk Hogan is gay has been circulating in some corner of the web for well over a decade now. It didn't just pop up out of nowhere. It wasn't some random Twitter leak. This whole thing actually started in a very public, very messy courtroom and a radio studio.
Honestly, the "Hulkster" has lived about ten different lives. He was the 80s superhero. He was the Hollywood heel. Then he was the reality TV dad. But in 2011, his personal life collided with his public persona in a way that changed everything. That’s when the "gay" rumors really took flight, and they weren't coming from fans. They were coming from his ex-wife, Linda Bollea.
Where the Rumors Actually Started
Divorce is rarely pretty. But when you’re Terry Bollea—the man behind the mustache—it’s a spectacle. During a radio interview with Howard Stern and later in her book, Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, Linda Hogan made some pretty massive claims. She suggested that Hulk had an intimate relationship with his long-time friend and fellow wrestler, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.
People lost their minds.
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You’ve got to remember the context here. These two guys were inseparable for decades. Brutus was Hogan’s "disciple" in the wrestling world. Linda claimed the two had a bond that went beyond just "brotherhood." She even hinted at physical abuse and a secret life. Hulk didn't take it lying down. He fired back with a defamation lawsuit.
"No brother, I'm not. And if I was a homosexual, I'd tell you," Hogan told Inside Edition in a 2011 interview.
He was adamant. He said if he were gay, he’d embrace it. He basically argued that Linda was just trying to sell books and ruin his livelihood. For Hogan, this wasn't just a rumor; it was an attack on the "All-American" brand he’d spent thirty years building.
The Gawker Trial and the Sex Tape
If the divorce was the spark, the Gawker trial was the gasoline. This 2016 legal battle is probably the most famous privacy case in modern history. A sex tape was leaked. It featured Hogan and Heather Clem, who was the wife of his then-best friend, Bubba the Love Sponge.
Wait. Why does a sex tape with a woman matter in a discussion about whether Hulk Hogan is gay?
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Well, it’s about the "hidden life" narrative. The trial forced Hogan to testify under oath about his most private moments. It revealed a lot of things people didn't know—including some pretty ugly recordings where he used racial slurs and homophobic language. While the tape itself was heteronormative, the sheer amount of "secret" behavior being exposed made some people wonder: What else is he hiding?
Gawker's lawyers actually tried to use Hogan's public "Hulk" persona against his private "Terry" persona. They argued that because he talked about his sex life on Howard Stern, he had no right to privacy. The jury didn't buy it. They awarded him $140 million.
Why the Rumors Persistent into 2026
Even after his passing in July 2025 at the age of 71, people are still typing this keyword into search bars. Why? Part of it is just the nature of celebrity. People love a "secret" that contradicts a public image. Hogan was the ultimate "alpha male" of the 80s. To some, the idea of him being gay is the ultimate "gotcha."
Also, let's be real. The wrestling world is weirdly homoerotic to begin with. You have grown men in spandex rolling around together. It’s theater. It’s performance. Fans have always projected their own theories onto these larger-than-life characters.
But look at the facts. Hogan was married three times.
- Linda Claridge (1983–2009)
- Jennifer McDaniel (2010–2022)
- Sky Daily (2023–2025)
Every public bit of evidence points to him being a straight man who had a very complicated, often scandalous, personal life. The "gay" allegations were never backed up by a second source. No "secret boyfriends" ever came forward. It was one person's claim during a bitter legal battle.
The Legacy of the "Brother"
Hulk Hogan's final years were spent mostly in the political spotlight and dealing with his health. He became a fixture at conservative events, famously ripping his shirt off for Donald Trump at the 2024 RNC. When he died of cardiac arrest in Clearwater, the tributes poured in from all sides.
The rumors about his sexuality are just a footnote now. They represent a specific era of "tabloid warfare" where the goal wasn't truth—it was damage.
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What you should take away from this:
- Source Matters: The rumors originated from a contentious divorce, not from Hogan himself or corroborated evidence.
- Legal Standing: Hogan sued for defamation over these claims, which is a pretty strong signal of where he stood.
- The Persona vs. The Man: The Gawker trial proved that "Hulk Hogan" the character and Terry Bollea the man were often two different people, but neither was ever proven to be gay.
If you’re looking for a scandal in the Hulkster’s life, you don't have to look far. The racism controversy and the sex tape are right there. They’re documented. They’re real. But the idea that Hulk Hogan is gay remains what it has always been: a rumor born in a courtroom that never found its footing in reality.
Next time you see a headline like this, check the date. Most of this "news" is over a decade old. It’s just the internet doing what the internet does—recycling old drama for a new audience. Hogan lived his life out loud, for better or worse, and he left nothing on the table when he passed.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers:
- Verify the Context: When reading about celebrity sexuality, always check if the "source" is an ex-spouse in a legal battle. These are often unreliable.
- Separate the Character: Understand that professional wrestlers play "characters." What they do in the ring or in interviews as that character isn't always a reflection of their private lives.
- Check Primary Documents: If you're curious about the Gawker case, the court transcripts are public. They offer a much more nuanced look at Hogan’s life than any 200-word blog post ever could.