Fitness Influencer Joey Swoll Fires Back After Hulk Hogan Backlash

Fitness influencer Joey Swoll broke his brief social media silence Friday, declaring he won’t be “canceled” after facing backlash for posting a tribute to WWE legend Hulk Hogan.

“We do me. Love me or hate me, I am not going anywhere and you are not going to cancel me,” Swoll told his 8 million TikTok followers. “I just needed a few days to step back to breathe, to get my mind right, and over those few days, I received thousands and thousands of messages from people telling me ‘do not quit,’ how much I help and inspire them, including messages giving me a good kick in the ass I needed to get back up. So I am not quitting and I am not apologizing.” (RELATED: REPORT: Hulk Hogan Privately Battled Cancer Before His Death)

My message is do better, NOT be perfect. pic.twitter.com/3NjnGMxu6R

— Joey Swoll (@TheJoeySwoll) August 1, 2025

The 42-year-old — real name Joey Sergo — had reposted an old video in which he dressed as Hogan, reportedly wearing a costume gifted to him by the wrestling star, who died July 24 of a heart attack, according to the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center, via Page Six.

Critics slammed Swoll for honoring Hogan, citing the wrestler’s controversial past. Swoll responded with an apology video, saying he wasn’t fully aware of Hogan’s scandals, and announced he was quitting the internet in a since-deleted July 29 post.

“All the good I’ve done, all the people I’ve helped, all for nothing,” he wrote at the time.

@sc3pblack UPDATE: He has apologized. Good for him. Video likely coming soon #fyp #relatable ♬ original sound – Aura

But Swoll returned Friday, posting from his car — a familiar setting — and shifting back to his campaign against “gym bullies.”

“I just needed a few days to step back, to breathe, to get my mind right,” he said, adding he received thousands of supportive messages urging him to stay.

“My message is do better, NOT be perfect,” he captioned his comeback post.

Swoll, who calls himself the “CEO of Gym Positivity,” vowed to continue advocating for kindness in fitness spaces and being a voice for the bullied.