Terry's life is an example of the dangers of celebrity addiction to fame
which at times can be as dangerous as other forms of addiction. When the
craving for more fame leads to a reality show about one's like, the results
are often broken relationships, suicide, and, as in Terry's case, a
disturbing pathology of family behavior and dynamics.
The muscle-bound wrestling
superstar of the World Wrestling Federation dominated the wrestling
world in the 1980s and early 90s with multiple different ring personas -
Hulk Hogan ,Hollywood Hogan, Hulk Machine, Mr. America,
Thunderlips, and a few more which might have made a great multiple
personalities movie of the week on Lifetime Television.
As his wrestling popularity began to wane,
Terry decided to launch
Hogan Knows Best
a VH1 reality show with his family. his then-wife
Linda, and their children Brooke and Nick.
It resulted in Terry's and Linda's divorce which Linda blamed on his
infidelity, physical and mental abuse, and prescription drug
abuse, and claimed that that
"[Terry] tore my shirt. He threw lamps. He held me down on the bed with his
hands around my throat during arguments, slamming doors, pounding walls. I
was always afraid he would kill me in one of his rages." She then
( 48 at the time)
a
took a 19-year-old boy-toy lover.
Then Brooke blamed her father for the breakup and began to pose for nude
photos. Nick went to jail for five-months for reckless driving with
violating limits on blood alcohol level in which his best friend, 22
year-old
active-duty
Marine John Graziano, was left with permanent brain damage which is expected to require lifelong care.
The Graziano family sued and settled with the Hogan family members.
Terry/Hulk reported that he came "damn close" to killing himself after downing a cocktail of Xanax and rum, but an unexpected phone call saved his life.
Ironically, Terry/ Hulk was nominated for a Teen Choice Award TV for
"Male Choice Reality Star" for his role in Hogan Knows Best.
Even some of his fellow-wrestlers went after him. James Hellwig AKA The
Ultimate Warrior released a YouTube video in 2011 accusing his one-time
rival of being a cocaine-using, wife-swapping “dope head. He addresses
Terry/Hulk directly saying “You’re a real piece of shut” and asks.
“What kind of human being are you? The things that have real value mean
nothing to you in your life.” And closed with an indictment that “You were
both whores—neither one of you had a problem with getting thrills on the
side, In fact Terry, you
tried to get me to sample those thrills,” adding, “I bet I’m the only guy
who said no to doing your wife.”
So to celebrate Terry/Hulk's birthday, we
suggest remembering him in his glory days when he had a loving family by
watching
Rocky III (1982) in which
he appears in his Thunderlips persons, and downing a few Incredible Hulk
Cocktails while swearing on a Bible that you will never appear on a reality
show. Although the cocktail was named for the famously green comic book
charter, Terry has recently transformed himself into one, but
unfortunately not a superhero.
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