If you were anywhere near a computer in 2012, you probably remember the headlines. They were messy. They were loud. And at the center was a grainy video that eventually toppled a media empire. But even years later, the details surrounding hulk hogan bubba the love sponge wife—Heather Cole, formerly Heather Clem—remain a tangled web of "he-said, she-said" and Florida courtroom drama.
Most people just think of it as the "Gawker case." Honestly, though? It started way before the lawsuits. It started in a bedroom in Tampa, back in 2006, between a world-famous wrestler and his best friend’s wife.
The Setup: A Friendship Gone South
Terry Bollea, the man behind the Hulk Hogan bandana, was going through it. His marriage to Linda was cratering. He was depressed. In his own words during the trial, he was "burnt out" from the trauma of his impending divorce.
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Enter Bubba the Love Sponge (real name Todd Alan Clem). Bubba wasn't just some radio shock jock to Hogan; he was his best friend. He was the best man at Hogan’s wedding. So, when Bubba suggested that Hogan sleep with his wife, Heather, Hogan eventually gave in.
He claims Bubba was "relentless" about it. Basically, it was presented as a way for a friend to help another friend blow off steam. But there was a massive catch that Hogan says he knew nothing about: the camera.
Who is Heather Clem?
Heather Clem (now Heather Cole) wasn't just a bystander. During the legal firestorm, she became a central figure, though she’s always been the quietest one in the room. At the time, she was a 30-something former model married to Bubba.
The couple reportedly had an "open" arrangement. Bubba liked to watch, or at least he liked to record.
At the 2016 trial, Heather’s testimony was a bit of a bombshell. She admitted that Bubba had told her to have sex with Hogan. She also admitted she knew about the recording, though Hogan maintained he was told specifically that no cameras were running.
"My gut was telling me this was wrong," Hogan testified later. He asked Bubba point-blank if he was being recorded. Bubba said no. Bubba lied.
The Tape That Broke the Internet
For six years, the footage just sat there. Bubba had burned it to a DVD, scrawled "Hogan" on it, and tucked it in a desk drawer. Then, it disappeared.
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How did Gawker get it? That’s still a bit of a mystery, though later investigations pointed toward a former employee of Bubba’s stealing it. When Gawker published a two-minute snippet in October 2012, the world shifted.
The legal battle wasn't just about sex. It was about privacy vs. the First Amendment. Gawker argued that because Hogan talked about his sex life constantly in his autobiography and on Howard Stern, it was "newsworthy."
Hogan’s team argued that Terry Bollea, the human being, had a right to privacy that Hulk Hogan, the character, didn't necessarily waive just by being a celebrity.
The Aftermath and the $140 Million Verdict
The jury in Pinellas County, Florida, didn't side with the New York media elite. They saw a man whose privacy had been violated in the most intimate way possible. They awarded Hogan $140 million.
- $55 million for economic harm.
- $60 million for emotional distress.
- $25 million in punitive damages.
Gawker went bankrupt. Bubba and Hogan’s friendship was nuked. Bubba eventually settled with Hogan for a measly $5,000 and an on-air apology, but the damage was done.
Where is Heather Cole Now?
Fast forward to 2026. Hulk Hogan passed away in 2025 at the age of 71, and the scandal has resurfaced as his estate continues to guard his legacy.
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Heather has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. Now in her early 50s, she lives in the Tampa area and works as a certified personal trainer. She specializes in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting. She’s moved on, changed her name back to Cole, and rarely speaks about the tape that changed media history.
Interestingly, Bubba the Love Sponge recently tried to release a documentary titled Video Killed the Radio Star, which promised to tell "the real story." Hogan’s son, Nick, immediately filed a restraining order to stop the use of the sex tape footage. A settlement was reached just months ago, allowing the film to move forward—but only after the explicit clips were stripped out.
The Legacy of the Scandal
What most people get wrong is thinking this was just about a wrestler and a friend's wife. It was the moment we realized that billionaires—like Peter Thiel, who secretly funded Hogan's lawsuit—could use the legal system to dismantle media companies they didn't like.
It also set a massive precedent for "revenge porn" and digital privacy.
What you should take away from this saga:
- Privacy is not a binary. Just because someone is a public figure doesn't mean every square inch of their private life is up for grabs.
- The "Consent" Factor. Even if the act is consensual, the recording often isn't. That’s where the legal line is usually drawn.
- Digital Footprints are Forever. Even twenty years later, these clips and stories are being litigated by estates and children.
If you’re looking to understand the current legal landscape for creators and celebrities, start by looking at the Bollea v. Gawker filings. They are the blueprint for how modern privacy law is navigated in the age of leaked content. You can find many of these public records through the Pinellas County Clerk’s office or legal databases like Westlaw.
Actionable Insights for Digital Privacy
If you find yourself or someone you know in a situation involving non-consensual imagery, the landscape has changed significantly since 2012.
- Document Everything: If a private recording is shared without consent, take screenshots of the source and timestamps immediately.
- DMCA Takedowns: You don't need to be Hulk Hogan to use copyright law. If you are in the video, you often have a claim to the copyright of your own likeness, which can be used to force platforms like Google or X to delist the content.
- Consult a "Cyber-Civil Rights" Attorney: This is a specialized field that didn't really exist in 2006. They focus specifically on cases involving digital privacy violations and "revenge porn" statutes which are now active in almost every state.
The story of the hulk hogan bubba the love sponge wife scandal is a reminder that in the digital age, a single "private" moment can become a permanent public record. Protect your data, know who you're trusting, and remember that even "best friends" sometimes have cameras hidden in the smoke detector.