TMZ pays $18,000 for Hernandez letter, internet buzz

Thursday TMZ leaked a letter Aaron Hernandez wrote from inside his prison cell to a friend about his innocence. In the hand-written letter Hernandez states he is not guilty and at the end asks his friend not to post the letter on social media.

Of course within hours it had been leaked to media outlets online.

Among the quotable lines Hernandez states, “The world just makes things out of false accusations… and it will all die down, especially when the say NOT GUILTY.” Also writing, “God put me in this situation for a reason.”

The pen pal, who received the letter, has been identified as Karl through TMZ, who told the site he wrote back to Hernandez before speaking with the gossip site. Karl says he wants to visit his friend in prison and wrote back to offer encouragement because he was in the same jail 15 years earlier.

Now, remember Hernandez’s explicit comment to not publish the letter on social sites? Sportsworld, INC., who recieved the letter first, said they felt no obligation to respect Hernandez’s request not to post it.

Bleacher Report states that the spike in internet traffic to TMZ’s site after the letter went viral actually cost the site $18,000. The letter on TMZ has over 2,000 views and Bleacher Report’s write-up has over 14,000 views.

Hernandez has been charged as a suspect in the murder case of semi-pro football player, Odin Lloyd. Hernandez has been denied bail and will remain in jail until his trial begins.

CBS Boston reports that the letter was purchased at Saugus Memorabillia store. This letter proves the pen is mightier on social media and can cost a pretty penny too.