Alachua County School Board Chair Sarah Rockwell is facing mounting criticism for recent comments she made on social media regarding the passing of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.
“Oh did Hulk die? I didn’t even know. Good. One less MAGA in the world,” Rockwell wrote in a since-deleted comment on her personal Facebook account.
In a follow-up comment referencing Hogan, who died on July 24, Rockwell wrote: “[H]e worked with the McMahons to union bust professional wrestling. [H]e’s never been a good guy. I feel absolutely nothing about his death.”
After her comments went viral on social media, Rockwell issued an apology on her school board Facebook account.
In the post, Rockwell wrote that she made a “cruel and flippant comment” and “that I never have and never will wish harm on anyone regardless of whether we share political views.”
“While I strongly disagree with some of the comments Hulk Hogan made, that is no excuse for my comment,” she wrote.
In the post, Rockwell also addressed Alachua County residents specifically.
“I want to assure all of you that the best interests of our children and our public schools are at the center of everything I do as a board member,” she wrote. “I hope I have shown that by my record of advocacy for children, families, and staff members throughout Alachua [C]ounty.”
On Monday, the Alachua County Republican Party posted on Facebook, calling for Rockwell to resign from her school board position.
“Celebrating someone’s death is reprehensible, regardless of political party,” the post said.
“While her apology may have been sincere, the scar will remain.”
Mainstreet reached out to Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) Tuesday afternoon, but Jackie Johnson, a spokesperson for the district, was not available for comment.
The school board is scheduled to hold a regular business meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday in the District Office Boardroom (620 E. University Ave., Gainesville). This will be followed by a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. to adopt the tentative 2025-26 millage and budget.
Below is Rockwell’s apology statement she posted on social media:
“A few days ago, I made a cruel and flippant comment from my personal Facebook account on a friend’s post regarding the death of Hulk Hogan. I deeply regret making that comment and have since removed it. I want to make it very clear that I never have and never will wish harm on anyone regardless of whether we share political views. While I strongly disagree with some of the comments Hulk Hogan made, that is no excuse for my comment.
I also sincerely apologize for the way my comment has eroded confidence in my ability to represent all students, families, and staff in Alachua County. I want to assure all of you that the best interests of our children and our public schools are at the center of everything I do as a board member. I hope I have shown that by my record of advocacy for children, families, and staff members throughout Alachua county.
Again, I apologize for the hurt and distrust I have caused with my insensitive comment. I will continue to do the hard work of putting our children and schools first. I hope that I can earn back your trust.”
Sarah Rockwell, Alachua County School Board
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News.
I saw Republican spokesmodel Tim Marden on TV calling for her to resign, so the governor could appoint a MAGA Republican to replace her, as it is the only way to get one on office in Alachua County.
NO.
She made one statement on her private web page, covered by the first amendment. You can call for her resignation the day after MAGA in Chief Donald J. Trump stops saying extremely nasty things about every person who does not worship his mighty MAGA posterior. Until then Marden, you have no say in what appropriate public comment is.
Want a R on the school board? Run one with a decent platform. One problem: you do not have any.
As I did in the military a school board member gives up certain rights – even the rights under the First Amendment. Openly celebrating the death of an American influences the very children she claims she represents. What model of decency is that? She needs to resign.
By the way Rush Limbaugh was indeed a great American – a greater American than the last occupant of the office of the Presidency or anyone who used the autopen to undermine the Presidency.
She should resign. Regardless of party, Resign and run an election to replace her. She can’t take that kind of comment back. She should not represent our students.
But I thought Floridians was against cancel culture and for free speach.
RESIGN!!!!!!
But I thought Floridians was against cancel culture and for free speach
No wonder our District seems so poorly managed. Terrible example to set for kids and teachers.
What about Floridians views
against cancel culture?
Vote the bums out.
Her flippant remark on her personal page let’s you know what she really thinks. Such hatred should not be anywhere near children.
What about Floridians views
against cancel culture?
There are some jobs that are very sensitive because they deal with vulnerable populations. In this person’s case they are defining school material and standards for kids. There is no place for that level of bias from one that is placed in a near sacred position of trust with kids.
Even if her comment had not, in and of itself, been highly offensive, it was absurdly stupid of her to make polarizing comments on a public forum. Dumb! She should be fired for sheer stupidity, if not for the actual comment. We can’t have stupid, biased people in charge of our children.
Given the luke warm, if regrettable and not OK comment she made and the fact she has recanted it fully and with apologees all around, the attacks on her from the GOP ring hollow and hypocritical. Our president through his daily intemperate remarks has created a toxic and indecent political national political atmosphere for which we will hear no apology, nor a call for one from his party members.
This is the guy who gave a Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, who used to regulalry mock the dead he didn’t like as having “assumed room temperature”. Mean while the newly elected GOP Conressman from up the road in Ormond Beach just advocated for “nuking” Palestine and encouraged the people in Gaza to “starve away”. Are we to believe Tim Marden’s virgin ears are truly offended when he belongs to the party who celebrates Trump? One assumes he voted for him 3 times now, so it’s not like he and the rest of MAGA didn’t know what they were getting. They got exactly what they wanted, so stop with the clutched pearls.
I am not a Floridian but last week I had a very pleasant conversation with a fellow senior USAF officer from Florida. He is a very liberal democrat and I am a very conservative republican. Politics and its implications were not a subject of our discussion. We caught up and respected each other. Next week, God willing, I will have another personal meeting with a Floridian in very similar circumstances. We would never think to disrespect each other or turn a political movement into an invective. We do not label political beliefs as swear words. To publicly write what she did in her position is absolutely unacceptable and apologies are merely being sorry for her exposing her true character. She needs to resign.
How disgusting can a democrat be than to be grateful for someone’s death. In reality, it is only a difference of opinion. I wonder how many of us veterans living here with grandchildren in the Alachua school system?
Just resign! She should not be in a leadership position.