Fitness Influencer Joey Swoll Quits Social Media After Hulk Hogan Tribute Backlash

Fitness influencer Joey Swoll resigned from social media in late July 2025 after intense backlash over a tribute video he posted honoring the late wrestler Hulk Hogan, who died from cardiac arrest at 71. Swoll initially reposted a video of himself dressed as Hogan to celebrate the wrestling icon but was criticized for ignoring Hogan's controversial past, including his use of racial slurs, which led to WWE terminating Hogan's contract years earlier. During a livestream, Swoll defended his tribute but further inflamed critics by using the outdated and offensive term "colored," prompting widespread condemnation. After conducting research and understanding the extent of Hogan's past behavior, Swoll issued a public apology, removed the video, and acknowledged his mistake. Despite the apology, the backlash escalated, including threats to Swoll's loved ones, which ultimately led him to quit social media entirely. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in how public figures' complex legacies are navigated in social media discourse.