Hulk Hogan Trial Targets 'News Value' of His Privates

Former Gawker editor AJ Daulerio took the stand Monday in the trial over the website's publication of the Hulk Hogan sex tape, and during what the Hollywood Reporter calls "heated" questioning toward the end of his testimony, this exchange between Daulerio and one of the lawyers for Hogan (whose real name is Terry Bollea, Reuters reports) took place:

• Lawyer: "Mr. Bollea's penis had no news value, right?"
• Daulerio: "No."
• Lawyer: "It wasn't newsworthy, right?"
• Daulerio: "No."
• Lawyer: "There was no news value to showing them having sex?"
• Daulerio: "No, not necessarily."

Daulerio insisted that, by publishing the video, he was making a "social commentary" about celebrity sex tapes. "Public figures live a different life," he said, arguing that there are limits to the level of privacy a star can expect. Daulerio was also questioned about an attention-getting statement he made in his taped deposition, which was shown to the jury last week, about where exactly he'd draw the line in terms of sex tapes he'd consider publishing. (His answer: sex tapes of children under the age of 5.) Asked about that Monday, Daulerio said he was being sarcastic after "a very long day" of questioning, and that in reality, "That's not my view." Hogan is suing for $100 million over invasion of privacy. (More Hulk Hogan stories.)