Baba the Love Sponge, Hulk Hogan’s former close friend, expressed his frustration over being labeled “the bad guy” for allegedly revealing the truth about Hogan’s deteriorating health prior to his passing on Thursday.
In a radio show segment from Friday, Baba mentioned he had spoken to Hogan’s wife, Sky Daly, along with several of Hogan’s acquaintances, including WWE Hall of Famers Eric Bischoff and Jimmy Hart, who supposedly misled the public regarding Hogan’s condition.
“You can’t dismiss what I’ve said and what I forecasted accurately,” Baba commented, referencing his real name, Todd Clem. “I was, without a doubt, the only person speaking the truth about Hogan’s health situation.”
Baba seemed to indicate that some people will acknowledge, “What do you know, I was right.” Yet, he added, “Honestly, I wish I had been wrong.”
He questioned the motives behind Sky Daly’s and others’ reluctance to share the truth. “I mean, it’s not like it’s a big deal, is it? Daily, Brian Blair, Jimmy Hart, Missy Beefcake—they’re all keyboard warriors calling me out,” he said.
Baba has been vocal since mid-June about Hogan’s declining health, noting that Hogan spent a considerable time in the ICU and was close to death.
Representatives for Hogan, including Bischoff and Daly, did not respond to Baba’s remarks.
Just days before Hogan’s death, Hart tweeted that “Hulk is doing great things and is incredible,” seemingly contradicting Baba’s claims about Hogan’s health.
On July 11, Daly denied speculations that Hogan was in a coma or suffered brain damage, affirming that “his heart is strong” and pointing out his recovery following neck surgery.
“He was facing some health challenges, and I truly believed he would overcome them. I had faith in him. I thought we had more time,” Daly wrote in a Facebook tribute following Hogan’s passing.
Reports indicate that Hogan, 71, was taken by ambulance from his Clearwater, Florida home, where “cardiac arrest” was cited before he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Clearwater Police Major Nate Burnside assured that there were no indications of foul play involved.
This is the latest in the death of wrestler Hulk Hogan
Baba reiterated that his aim was to provide the public with accurate details regarding Hogan’s critical condition.
“I had a special bond with him, albeit it doesn’t feel that way anymore,” Baba reflected. “For 15 years, we were among each other’s closest friends, seeing one another daily. There are things I carry with me to my grave because of what we experienced together.”
Baba and Hogan’s friendship faced challenges after a sex tape, recorded by Baba’s then-wife, Heather, was leaked by Gawker in 2012. Following the incident, Hogan sued Gawker for invasion of privacy and initially won $140 million, but later filed for bankruptcy.
