{"id":107605,"date":"2025-07-31T13:10:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T13:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/107605\/"},"modified":"2025-07-31T13:10:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T13:10:10","slug":"fitness-influencer-joey-swoll-quits-social-media-after-hulk-hogan-costume-tribute-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/107605\/","title":{"rendered":"Fitness influencer Joey Swoll quits social media after Hulk Hogan costume tribute backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

A renowned fitness influencer and bodybuilder was chased off social media over the vitriol he received for his tribute to Hulk Hogan following the WWE legend\u2019s death.<\/a><\/p>\n

Joey Swoll, the 42-year-old \u201cCEO of Gym Positivity,\u201d declared Monday that he was \u201cdone\u201d with his online platforms as he apologized for dressing up as the mustachioed wrestling icon, which he claimed was a gift from Hogan himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI owe my followers, my community and all of social media an apology,\u201d Swoll told his 8 million followers in a recorded message<\/a> from the front seat of his car.<\/p>\n

Swoll had paid tribute to the late Hogan in a now-deleted video in which he wore a Halloween costume resembling the famed wrestler during a workout at Gold\u2019s Gym in Venice, Calif. <\/p>\n

Hogan, born Terry Bollea, died at the age of 71<\/a> on July 24 after suffering a \u201cserious medical issue\u201d at his Clearwater, Florida home.<\/p>\n

Fitness influencer Joey Swoll addresses his followers after taking down his Hulk Hogan tribute on July 28, 2025. Joey Swoll\/X<\/p>\n

Swoll was known for making videos where he outed \u201cgym bullies\u201d and held them accountable for the way they treated others on a mission to create a positive gym environment. <\/p>\n

The social media influencer said he faced backlash from upset followers during a livestream a day after posting the tribute.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would be a hypocrite if I didn\u2019t hold myself to the same standards. I am human, I am still growing and learning and I promise to all of you I will do better,\u201d he said. \u201cI have nothing but love and kindness in my heart, I will continue to try and make the world a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swoll, whose real name is Joey Sergo, then returned to social media<\/a> on Tuesday to say he was \u201cdone\u201d and that \u201cpeople just wait for a reason to hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the good I\u2019ve done, all the people I\u2019ve helped, all for nothing. I truly hope all the people I\u2019ve inspired do great things in their life and pay it forward to help others and carry on my message,\u201d Swoll wrote on X. \u201cBut no matter how much good you do, people just wait for a reason to hate you and tear you down. You either die a hero, or live long enough to be the villain. Thank you for your support. I am done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of listening and understanding like I should\u2019ve, I became defensive and said \u2018I was posting to celebrate the wrestling icon, the person so many of us looked up to as kids that we grew up with. That made us tear off our shirts and take our vitamins and say our prayers,’\u201d Swoll said.<\/p>\n

Swoll had often recycled the workout video dressed as Hogan. In October 2020, he posted the same clip<\/a> as Hogan\u2019s \u201cReal American\u201d theme song served as the background music.<\/p>\n

Swoll claims he was unaware of the extent of Hogan\u2019s scandals<\/a> and later researched the wrestler.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince last night I have done a lot of research and learned all of the horrible, horrible things that man has done, which is way more than just making a mistake and being human,\u201d Swoll said.<\/p>\n

Joey Swoll wears a Hulk Hogan Halloween costume in an old video he reposted to pay tribute to the wrestling icon on July 25, 2025. Joey Swoll\/X<\/p>\n

Hulk Hogan at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee on April 27, 2007. George Napolitano \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n

The WWE star was fired from the company in 2015 when video resurfaced of him using racial slurs in 2007.<\/p>\n

Hogan admitted to steroid use during his early professional career and was caught in a sex-tape scandal with the wife of his former friend, Bubba the Love Sponge.<\/p>\n

A clip from the video was published by gossip blog Gawker and Hogan sued the company, settling for $31 million<\/a> and the site\u2019s eventual demise.<\/p>\n

The New York Post front cover on July 25, 2025. csuarez<\/p>\n

Hulk Hogan poses for photos before a show in Memphis, Tennessee. George Napolitano \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n

Swoll removed the Hogan tribute from all his social accounts and apologized.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo anyone that I offended, I am sorry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Swoll said he was met with backlash again, moments later, when he used the word \u201ccolored\u201d instead of the term \u201cperson of color\u201d during the livestream.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a very outdated, very offensive term. Someone educated me and told me that it wasn\u2019t ok to use that, which I immediately apologized to everyone and said \u2018I would never do that again,’\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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