Joey Swoll’s Comeback and the Outrage That Almost Took Him Down

August started with a storm of controversy that sent Joey Swoll—real name Joey Sergo—straight to ‘cancel land.’ As the month ends, things have gotten better. The outrage didn’t stick — but the moment still deserves a closer look. Because in a time when backlash usually means the end, Joey made a legendary comeback.

In his signature car-filmed video, Swoll addressed his followers directly: “I am not quitting, and I am done apologizing.” He reaffirmed his mission to promote gym positivity and call out toxic behavior, vowing to continue what he started.

And it turns out, his audience is still here for it.

Despite the controversy, Joey didn’t lose followers — he gained them. With nearly 17 million across TikTok and Instagram, he's arguably more influential now than before the backlash. He credits thousands of supportive messages from fans for keeping him in the fight.

It’s a rare story: someone gets slammed online, disappears for a second, then returns stronger than before. But to understand why this moment matters, you have to rewind to where it all started.

The Joey Swoll Hulk Hogan Outrage Was Just Another Case of Fake Outrage Culture

For those unfamiliar or needing a refresher, Joey reposted an old video of himself dressed as Hulk Hogan in the gym. It was meant as a tribute, shared shortly after the wrestling legend passed away.

Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, it triggered a wave of outrage — and a whole lot of cancel culture. But here’s the thing: the video wasn’t new. Joey originally shared that clip years ago, back in 2020, and nobody said a word. So, if the video was truly offensive, why did people only start reacting now — five years later — after Hogan’s death?

The answer is simple: Fake outrage sells. Many jumped on the bandwagon to create viral content, raking in views and likes by pretending to be offended. This is the pattern of our times — manufactured outrage, monetized through clicks.

In an attempt to defend himself, Joey went live on social media — but instead of calming things down, his words sparked even more controversy. While pushing back against the criticism, he used the term “colored people” when talking about other athletes who looked up to Hulk Hogan. The phrase hit a nerve, igniting a fresh wave of outrage. What was meant to be a defense turned into another controversy. Joey later addressed the mistake in his apology video, admitting he hadn’t known the term was considered offensive and apologizing to anyone hurt by his words.

Let’s be real — many people, myself included, never realized “colored people” had become offensive. The term was widely accepted for decades and is still right there in the name of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Now, “people of color” is considered acceptable — but the difference is basically just word order. It feels like a game of semantics, and expecting everyone to keep up with every subtle shift in “acceptable” language is a bit ridiculous. People make mistakes, especially when it comes to evolving social norms — and not every slip should be treated like a scandal.

Joey wasn’t being hateful or malicious. He was trying to be respectful but stumbled over changing terminology. Is that reason enough to cancel someone?

And what about Hulk Hogan himself? Yes, he made racist remarks and behaved poorly in the past. But Hogan apologized publicly, faced consequences, and over time was forgiven and allowed back into the public spotlight. That’s redemption. So why can’t we allow some grace for Joey Swoll, who was simply paying tribute?

There’s also an old saying: “Speak only good of the dead.” That doesn’t mean we ignore their flaws, but attacking someone who intended to honor a deceased person seems harsh. Not every tribute has to be perfect, and not every mistake deserves to become a public spectacle.

In the end, this whole situation is less about justice and more about clicks. Our culture thrives on outrage — real or fake — and we’ve created an environment where people are quick to attack rather than understand. Joey Swoll’s story is a cautionary tale about how fast things can spiral in the age of social media.

Maybe it’s time to rethink what we celebrate online — not just the outrage, but also forgiveness, growth, and humanity.