Hogan apologizes; WWE refuses to relent.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: World Wrestling Entertainment has terminated its longstanding association with arguably its most well-known entertainer, the legendary Hulk Hogan, after an interview from 2012 recently emerged in which the wrestler uses the N-word.
The organization said in a statement that it “terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan).” Without specifically mentioning the use of the N-word, it said, “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”
The WWE also removed any mention of the wrestling Hall of Famer from their website.
Hogan has since apologized in a statement to People magazine, admitting the language he used was reprehensible:
“Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”
“This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise,” Hogan told PEOPLE. “I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”
Despite the firestorm surrounding the 2012 video, CNN commentator Marc Lamont Hill said early Friday that WWE took preemptive action in terminating Hogan because of a separate audio recording that goes above and beyond what Hogan said in the 2012 interview, which was broadcast on SiriusXM satellite radio and has been available for public consumption since then.
According to Hill, the second recording caught Hogan spewing a racial tirade against wrestling and movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.