Joey Swoll Rejects Cancel Culture in Fiery Return to Social Media After Backlash Over Hulk Hogan Tribute

2 August 2025

Joey Swoll, the fitness influencer and self‑styled “CEO of Gym Positivity,” triggered an online firestorm in late July and early August when he reposted a video of himself dressed as Hulk Hogan in tribute to the late wrestling legend only to delete it under mass social media criticism and declare temporarily that he was “done” with his influencer persona. In the video he referenced the costume a piece reportedly gifted to him by Hogan himself and explained his tribute came from childhood fandom rather than political alignment.

But critics pointed out Hogan’s scandalous history, and Swoll acknowledged in an apology video that he had been unaware of the full scope of the wrestler’s racist remarks and legal controversies. He even corrected his choice of words after using the term “colored” while discussing Hogan, noting that it was outdated and offensive, and pledged to be a better ally. His accounts went silent on July 29 after messages such as “All the good I’ve done for nothing. I am done” flooded his social feeds.

On Friday, August 1, four days after expectedly quitting social platforms, Swoll returned with a video that served as both apology and mic drop. Facing the camera squarely, he declared more plainly than before, “Love me or hate me I am not going anywhere and you are not going to cancel me.” His tone was defiant but introspective.

He thanked followers for thousands of messages urging him to stay many calling him an inspiration and affirmed that his mission remains “calling out bullies,” advocating for kindness, and encouraging people to “do better not be perfect.” He also addressed critics by saying he would not apologize in perpetuity and insisted the moment taught him humility without derailing the cause he built his brand on.

Swoll’s comeback was met with polarized reactions. Supporters took to social media in droves, celebrating his decision not to disappear and to continue his work. Others completely flipped, accusing him of hypocrisy that someone who built fame on naming and shaming others should show higher standard when criticized. Even within his own recorded apology video, critics called him out for using dated language under the guise of ignorance, while some claimed it validated long-standing doubts around the ideology he promotes. A representative example from Reddit reflects this perspective:

“He posted a video in tribute to Hulk Hogan then used the word colored when talking about black people” and lightly dismissed the backlash.

Another commenter framed the moment as emblematic, noting:

“The colored line and the Hogan love are just dog whistles.”

Swoll’s choice of words became a flashpoint because it echoed broader conversations about cancel culture versus accountability. His rise to popularity came through challenging social media attention-seekers and gym bad actors, often with editing and group shaming. When roles reversed, and he became the target of mob outrage himself, his message about nuance and reconciliation was both necessary and awkward. He addressed it with emotional difference, admitting, “I did not know what I did not know” a phrase he said had awakened him to evolving language and ethical responsibility.

Swoll’s return comes in a larger moment in digital culture, where entertainers and influencers are rapidly retracing their steps after public controversies involving figures linked to polarizing legacies such as Hogan’s. WWE wrestler Chelsea Green temporarily quit social media following a tribute to Hogan, citing death threats and harassment over her comments. Her exit underscores how fragile these spaces are. She later returned but warned that online platforms contain both praise and peril.

For Swoll, the episode period traces a familiar arc: rise on positivity messaging; controversy; apology; retreat; return with fire. Yet instead of fading away behind a “lesson learned” statement, he chose to stay visible and perhaps prove that being imperfect doesn’t contradict supporting progress. Many fans said his perseverance was inspiring itself, reinforcing that vulnerability can coexist with accountability. Influencer analysts see his case as a cautionary tale of how personal brand and platform-building demand both empathy and emotional fortitude.

Looking ahead, Swoll faces work to rebuild trust as an advocate, as a creator, and as an influencer framing himself as an ally. His conscious correction of terminology may be a minor symbolic gesture for critics, but for followers fed up with influencer doublespeak, it might signal sincerity. His insistence on continuing to call out bullies after being “called out” himself shifts the narrative from “cancel me” to “teach me,” implicitly accepting that growth matters more than image.

In sum, Joey Swoll’s social media hiatus was not in fact the end of his online journey but a test of conviction. The returning video was part apology, part rallying cry, saying: mistakes happen, wisdom comes later, and no matter how many times someone tries to convict you, refusing to shrink might be necessary to hold space for progress. Whether this chapter proves redemptive or a reputational hurdle depends on what comes next and whether he continues to hold himself as accountable as he once held others.