World Wrestling Entertainment and its most famous champion, Hulk Hogan, have severed their relationship apparently over a racist rant on a Hogan sex tape.
According to the National Enquirer, it was because of racist remarks that have been released from an unauthorized sex tape.
Hogan allegedly uses countless racial insults, including the “n-word.”
WWE, a publicly-traded company, released a statement today: “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”
Hogan, 61, has been removed from the WWE.com website, including his merchandise from the online store.
He has also been removed as a judge from the current edition of Tough Enough.
Late Thursday night, Hogan tweeted a strange message: “In the storm I release control, God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be, one love. HH.”
Hogan was the headliner for the then-World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s and early 1990s, before jumping to the rival World Championship Wrestling. The company’s third-longest reigning heavyweight champion ever, Hogan returned and departed from WWE on a few other occasions.
Even when not in wrestling, he remained in the public eye through the years, whether in movies, television shows, or the reality show, Hogan Knows Best.
In 2005, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, introduced by Sylvester Stallone, who had a hand in making a Hogan a celebrity, casting Hogan as Thunderlips in Rocky III. Hogan was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, though has yet to make an appearance to pick up his induction ring.
The sex tape, from around 2006 but released in 2012, was with Heather Clem, the wife of radio personality Bubba “The Love Sponge” Clem. Hogan sued to try to block its release.
Clem talked about Hogan on this morning’s radio show and almost defended his former friend, saying that context is important, and seemed to reference another Hogan racist-like rant.
Said Clem: “If it’s not a hard-sell, then Vince McMahon needs to retire tomorrow since you’ve done more controversial things with your company than what Hogan said answering questions from an African-American man that had already used the ‘n-word’ in a camaraderie-type context.”
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