Hulk Hogan, Dropped By WWE, Apologizes For Racial Slurs Caught On Tape
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Hulkamania is dead at the WWE.
Vince McMahon's wrestling behemoth severed ties with Hulk Hogan on Friday morning, hours after the superstar was noticeably scrubbed from its website. The move was apparently in response to a damning tape -- still unreleased -- featuring Hogan in "a filthy bigoted attack, littered with the N-word and other disgusting racial insults," according to a joint investigation by RadarOnline.com and the National Enquirer.
The comments were reportedly transcribed from a sex tape at the heart of Hogan's invasion of privacy lawsuit against Gawker Media.
"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 a statement to People magazine. "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. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs."
The WWE said Hogan's contract was "terminated."
"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 said in a statement.
Both RadarOnline.com and the National Enquirer published quotes reportedly from Hogan, though audio or video wasn't released.
"I mean, I'd rather if she was going to f--- some n-----, I'd rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n---- worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player," Hogan reportedly said of his daughter, Brooke. "I guess we're all a little racist. F---ing n-----."
The 61-year-old Hogan, whose given name is Terry Bollea, sent out a cryptic tweet earlier Friday:
Eagle-eyed wrestling fans noticed overnight that Hogan's profile suddenly disappeared from WWE.com, replaced with a message that said "You are not authorized to access this page." Hogan was also nowhere to be found on WWE's Hall of Fame page -- he was inducted in 2005 -- and his merchandise was gone from the online shop.
WWE is headquartered in Stamford, Conn.
