Robinson High School grad and Tampa native Terry Bollea known to the world as a wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan one of the most famous names in the history of the sport. The Hulkster has been cut loose by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Although the reason for Hogan’s termination wasn’t revealed, the news comes after a 2012 SiriusXM radio interview surfaced in which the wrestler used the n-word.
“WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the organization said in a statement on Friday. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”
For his part Hogan apologized for his actions in a statement released to People on Friday.
“Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation,” he said. “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.”
Another business deal was lost as Hogan is no longer named on a list of judges for WWE’s reality show, “Tough Enough,” although for now he’s on the roster for WWE’s August tour of Australia.
As of 7 a.m. this morning any mention of Hogan was gone from the WWE website and on-line store.
Meanwhile, on another matter the Hulkster is set to go to trial in a $100 million personal-injury lawsuit against Gawker Media, which posted video of a sex tape featuring Hogan.
The group’s CEO, Nick Denton, has been named by the Bollea in a lawsuit over a sex tape showing him and Heather Clem posted by Gawker in an article by AJ Daulerio, also a defendant. Clem, then the wife of Bollea’s friend Bubba “The Love Sponge” Clem, was named in a parallel suit. Denton and Gawker’s reporters have vigorously defended their right to publish the video.
The next date in the Gawker v Hogan lawsuit is 1 October, when a case management conference is scheduled.
