3 days after leaving social media over Hulk Hogan controversy, Joey Swoll returns

You can’t keep a swole guy down.

Last week, fitness influencer Joey Swoll (real name Joey Sergo), who has amassed over 5 million Instagram followers and 8 million on TikTok, courted controversy when he posted an old video of himself dressed up as Hulk Hogan in tribute to the controversial pro wrestling legend after he passed away. Swoll later defended the decision, 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.”

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.” He also apologized for using the term “colored.” However, later that day, he took to X to announce that he was leaving social media altogether due to ongoing threats and attacks.

“You either die a hero, or live long enough to be the villain,” Swoll said, dramatically quoting The Dark Knight.

Three days later, Swoll returned to social media.

On Friday, the 37-year-old posted a video in which he said he was done apologizing over the controversy and was ready to return to his usual content focused around “Gym Positivity.”

“Love me or hate me, I am not going anywhere, and you are not going to cancel me. 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.

“So I am not quitting, and I am done apologizing. I’m going to continue making videos, calling out bullies, being a voice for the people that can’t defend themselves, and making the gym community and the world a better place as I have done for years.”

Swoll then got right back to doing what he became famous for, calling out someone who was making fun of another person in the gym and making a video about it.

And so, Swoll is going to try to power through the controversy. Comments across Swoll’s X, Instagram, and TikTok accounts were overwhelmingly positive and welcoming, so it looks like the internet’s gym coach lives to bench another day.