Fitness influencer Joey Swoll quits social media over Hulk Hogan controversy

Hulk Hogan’s legacy is so divisive and controversial that he’s now caused multiple people to quit social media after offering tributes to him. The WWE legend has people working themselves into a shoot, brother, even from beyond the grave.

Fitness influencer Joey Swoll (real name Joey Sergo) has built up a massive following on social media thanks to his focus on “Gym Positivity.” A common video of his involves calling out someone who is making the gym less safe for beginners, shaming others over petty grievances, or putting ego ahead of results.

However, the buff gym coach, who has amassed over 5 million Instagram followers and 8 million on TikTok, found himself in hot water last week when he posted an old video of himself dressed up as Hulk Hogan in tribute to the pro wrestling legend, who had passed away.

Joey Swoll has apologized for posting a Hulk Hogan memorial after his death

“I’ve done a lot of research and learned all of the horrible things that man has done” pic.twitter.com/W7UeqoC79V

— Dexerto (@Dexerto) July 29, 2025

While Hogan was an idol and icon to many who grew up watching professional wrestling in the 1980s and ’90s, a series of controversies involving racist comments, a sex tape, and his support of Donald Trump muddied the waters around just how much he deserved to be celebrated. And it sounded to some as though Swoll was celebrating those aspects of Hogan, purposefully or not.

Later, during a livestream, the 37-year-old defiantly defended his post, saying he would not apologize and that “if you’re gonna go after me, you better go after the colored athletes and the people that are Black and minority that went and posted him as well.”

As you might imagine, that did not make the situation better.

Tuesday, after deleting the original Hulk Hogan tribute, Swoll posted a full apology video, saying that he had “done a lot of research and learned all of the horrible things that man has done.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Joey Swoll (@joeyswoll)

“A few days ago, I reposted an old video of me in the gym wearing a Hulk Hogan Halloween costume on the day that he passed,” he said in the video. “Last night in my livestream, a lot of people expressed how upset and frustrated they were with me that I had posted that. Instead of listening and understanding like I should have, I became defensive and said that I was posting to celebrate the wrestling icon, the person that so many of us looked up to as kids that we grew up with that made us tear our shirts, and take our vitamins, and say our prayers. I didn’t know to the extent of all the horrible things that he had done.

“Since last night, I have done a lot of research, talked to a few people, and learned all of the horrible, horrible things that that man has done, which is way more than just making a mistake and being human. So, because of that, I have taken the videos down, and I apologize to anybody that I offended. I am sorry.

“Also, during last night’s livestream, I used the word colored instead of saying person of color, which is a very outdated, very offensive term. A few moments later, somebody educated me and told me that it wasn’t okay to use that, which I immediately apologized to everyone and said, I would never do that again.

“So once again, to anybody that I offended, I am sorry. My whole page, my whole brand is based on holding people accountable and doing better. I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t hold myself to the same standards. I am human. I am still growing, I am still learning, and I promise all of you, I will do better. I have nothing but love and kindness in my heart. I will continue to try to make the world a better place. Once again, to everybody, I apologize.”

However, later on Tuesday, he took to X to announce that he was leaving social media altogether.

All the good I’ve done, all the people I’ve helped, all for nothing. I truly hope all the people I’ve inspired do great things in their life and pay it forward to help others and carry on my message. But no matter how much good you do, people just wait for a reason to hate you…

— Joey Swoll (@TheJoeySwoll) July 29, 2025

“All the good I’ve done, all the people I’ve helped, all for nothing,” he wrote. “I truly hope all the people I’ve inspired do great things in their life and pay it forward to help others and carry on my message. But 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.”

Swoll returned to X on Wednesday morning to explain that part of the reason he is leaving social media is due to death threats and threats against his family.

“A lot of people upset with me calling me weak and a quitter or worse,” he wrote. “They’re not wrong and I deserve it but just so we’re clear and you can walk a mile in my shoes. They sent messages telling me they know where I live and they were going to unalive me. That’s fine I can handle that it’s not the first time. Then they went after my gf, my business partner, and they found my sister’s number and text messaged her! That made me FURIOUS and disgusted with people. I lost it. So yea, maybe I am done with social media or need to take a break and get my head right. But I will say there so many incredible people being supportive and telling me how much I’ve helped them, to be stronger, and keep fighting. Thank you to everyone even those giving me a kick in the ass telling me to stop being weak and a quitter. You need to hear it once in awhile. I just need to breathe.”

Influencers rise and fall all the time, especially after buying into their own hype, but Swoll’s sudden fall from grace is shocking given how seemingly beloved he was on both sides of the aisle. Now, we wait for Swoll’s eventual social media return, which will unfortunately be influenced by how all of this played out.