Gawker Gave Secret $200K Loan to Nick Denton Before Bankruptcy, Hulk Hogan Says

Nick Denton / Credit: HuffPost Live

Hulk Hogan claims that Gawker Media made a secret $200,000 loan to owner Nick Denton before the ex-wrestler’s lawsuit led the website to file for bankruptcy.

In a new filing, Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, states that Gawker made the “very unusual move” on the brink of going into Chapter 11 last month.

Also Read: Peter Thiel's Lawyer Is Now Going After Gawker's Deadspin

“During the week ending June 10, 2016, at the same time that it was negotiating a DIP loan that has an effective interest rate near 30%, either Debtor or one of its affiliates made a payment of $200,000 in the form of a loan to the CEO for purposes of paying for personal bankruptcy counsel … The sole disclosure we found of this ‘loan’ was buried in a bullet point to an exhibit to Debtors’ motion for DIP financing. This loan was concealed from the Florida Court,” Hogan’s filing contends.

Hogan also doesn’t believe that Gawker’s current state of bankruptcy should prevent Denton from having to declare personal bankruptcy.

Also Read: Why Nick Denton Didn't Show Up to Gawker's Bankruptcy Hearing

Earlier this year, the former wrestling star won a stunning $140 million verdict in a defamation suit against Gawker after it posted parts of a sex tape showing Hogan with a friend’s wife.

Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel has admitted to funding a team of lawyers to find and help “victims” of Gawker Media’s coverage to mount cases against the website.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Hulk Hogan Timeline: From Hulkamania to Gawker Sex Tape Trial (Photos)

Hulk Hogan was born Terry Bolea and attended high school in Tampa, Fla.
Thomas Richard Robinson High School
Hogan broke into the wrestling business in the late 1970's, working under names like Terry Boulder.
WWE
Hogan and his 24-inch pythons ran wild when Hulkamania swept the globe in the 1980's.
WWE
Hogan shocked the world when he bodyslammed the 520-pound Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III.
WWE
Hogan's movie debut was in "Rocky III" as Thunderlips, a wrestler Rocky takes on at a charity event.
MGM
Hogan later starred alongside Christopher Lloyd in "Suburban Commando," one of many critical and commercial bombs Hogan was involved in.
New Line
Hogan admitted to taking steroids while testifying during a federal trial against WWF owner Vince McMahon. Hogan denied McMahon supplied or forced him to take the steroids, resulting in McMahon's acquittal.
WWE
Hogan left WWF and competed in WCW from 1994 to 2000. While there, he teamed with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to form the infamous New World Order.
WWE
Hogan returned to WWF in 2002 and faced off against The Rock at Wrestlemania X8.
WWE
Hogan starred in "Hogan Knows Best," a reality show with his family, from 2005 to 2007. The show was abruptly cancelled after Hogan's wife, Linda Claridge, filed for divorce when she discovered Hogan cheated on her during filming.
VH1
A few months prior to the divorce, Hogan was harshly criticized after his son was sent to jail for reckless driving that left a friend with irreversible brain damage. Tapes released by local police revealed Hogan and his son blaming the victim during a phone call and planning to capitalize on the crash with a reality TV deal.
Clearwater PD
Hogan moved to TNA Wrestling in 2010, immediately becoming a major character in the promotion. He returned to WWE in 2014.
TNA
A clip from a sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, ex-wife of Bubba The Love Sponge, is published on Gawker in October 2012.
Getty Images
After returning to WWF, now called WWE, in 2014, Hogan was fired in July 2015 after a racist rant from his sex tapes was released by the National Enquirer.
WWE
On March 7, the trial between Hogan and Gawker began. Hogan is suing Gawker for $100 million in damages, accusing the outlet of invasion of privacy.
AP
On March 18, Hogan was awarded $115 million (more than the amount he was seeking) after a ten-day trial and less than a day of deliberation by the jury.
Getty Images