'Imaginary Entities Conceived'
In the world of professional wrestling and beyond, Hulk Hogan left an indelible mark. Last week, at the age of 71, Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, passed away. His character and real-life persona had a striking duality, particularly during his legal battles and public life.
Hulk Hogan sued Gawker over the publication of a sex tape, claiming privacy infringement. The lawsuit was bankrolled by tech billionaire Peter Thiel. In 2012, Gawker published snippets from a DVD sex tape showing Hulk Hogan having sex with the wife of his friend.
Hulk Hogan's wrestling persona pivoted from being a good guy to a bad guy, a move that changed the face of wrestling through his popularity. He was featured on reality-TV shows, including Hogan Knows Best, and was a media product to the very end.
Hulk Hogan's media legacy might be more significant in how he used media coverage to build his legend rather than attempts to shut it down. He endorsed Donald Trump during the 2020 Republican National Convention, and intimated that Trump has been around a long time and knows his stuff.
Hulk Hogan's pop-cultural legacy was assessed in various obituaries. The New York Times ran at least eight obituaries for Hulk Hogan, praising his contributions to wrestling and entertainment. Hogan gave a video interview with the New York Times in 2009 while promoting a book. Netflix was reportedly working on a documentary project with Hogan's participation at the time of his death.
Hulk Hogan appeared in movies like Rocky III and was named the "most overrated wrestler" from a technical standpoint by Wrestling Observer. His character and fame reached such heights that a 1984 story in the New York Times noted his celebrity status in New York City.
As the world mourns the loss of Hulk Hogan, other news stories continue to unfold. The FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, said Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media and welcomed Skydance's commitment to make changes at CBS. The search results do not contain information about which organization acquired Joe Biden's book, but Little, Brown, and Co. have reportedly acquired former president Joe Biden's memoir with an advance of around ten million dollars.
In other news, at least sixty-three people have died from malnutrition-related causes this month alone in Gaza, including twenty-four children younger than five. The UN World Food Programme reports that hunger has reached catastrophic levels in Gaza, with a third of the population going days without food. The AFP news agency has called on Israel to allow the evacuation of its freelance contributors as they struggle to work due to starvation.
Protesters marched to CBS headquarters in opposition to the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. A petition to save The Late Show has notched over 258,000 signatures. In a move that could shake up the media landscape, the Federal Communications Commission approved Skydance Media's 8.4-billion-dollar acquisition of Paramount Global.
In the journalism world, eight journalists were awarded McGraw Investigative Reporting Grants for various investigative projects. David Cho will become editor in chief at CNBC beginning August 11. Jason Douglas will become the Wall Street Journal's Tokyo bureau chief. Tanya Simon was announced as the incoming executive producer for CBS News's 60 Minutes.
The Nelk Boys lost over ten thousand subscribers after uploading an episode featuring Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister appeared on an episode of the podcast Full Send, causing controversy and backlash.
In the entertainment industry, The New York Times published a brutal review of a Bravo show about Rachel Zoe in 2008. Paramount agreed to pay sixteen million dollars to settle Trump's lawsuit against 60 Minutes.
As we remember Hulk Hogan and reflect on his life and legacy, we are reminded of the dynamic and ever-changing world of media and entertainment. From legal battles to cultural impact, Hulk Hogan's story serves as a testament to the power of media in shaping public perception and influencing society.
