Hulk Hogan uses n-word in sex tape, is fired by WWE
Hulk Hogan uses n-word in sex tape, report says, as WWE fires wrestling icon
The WWE has removed most references to Hulk Hogan from its website.
The WWE used its finishing move on Hulk Hogan Friday morning, body-slamming the wrestling icon as a report claiming Hogan identified himself as “a racist” and used the n-word in a sex tape emerged.
The Connecticut-based company terminated the 61-year-old in a move that coincides with a National Enquirer/RadarOnline report claiming
Hogan spewed hateful, racist language in a taped conversation with Heather Clem — the woman he was filmed having sex with.
Hogan was talking to Clem about his daughter, Brooke, and lamented that he had pumped “$2 (to) $3 million on her music career,” which she squandered, the National Enquirer and RadarOnline reported. From there, Hulk got into his daughter’s dating life and dropped the n-word numerous times.
"I don’t know if Brooke was f--king the black guy’s son," Hogan reportedly said.
"I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f--k some n----r, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n----r worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!”
Hogan also said “I mean, I am a racist, to a point. F--king n-----s,”
the report claims.
Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE
The WWE has removed most references to Hulk Hogan on its websites.
Hogan issued an apology through People magazine Friday, calling his remarks "unacceptable."
"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," Hogan said in the statement. "This 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.I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs."
Radar and the Enquirer report that the transcripts from the sex tape are under seal in a Florida court, but claim to have authenticated the content with “five independent sources.”
The WWE began distancing itself from Hogan very early Friday morning, yanking his merchandise from its website and scrubbing him from their roster of alumni and hall of famers. Some 9,000 video clips from his career remained up on Friday.
The WWE issued a statement Friday saying that it had terminated its relationship with Hogan and made allusions to the National Enquirer report, but stopped short of saying explicitly that that was the reason for firing the legendary wrestler.
"WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan)," the WWE’s statement says. "WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide."
Hogan filed his
$100 million lawsuit against Gawker three years ago. The brash gossip site obtained the 2006 tape of Hogan and Heather Clem and published it under the headline “Even for a minute, watching Hulk Hogan have sex in a canopy bed is not safe for work but watch it anyway.” Hogan claims in the suit that his privacy was violated, while Gawker has argued that publishing the tape is protected by the First Amendment and newsworthy because Hogan has bragged publicly about his sexual prowess.