When Hulk Hogan was called a racist: All on the racism scandal that led to his WWE suspension and hall of fame removal
WWE ended its contract with Hogan on 24 July 2015, removing all references to him from their website
WWE legend Hulk Hogan passed away on 24 July after he suffered a cardiac arrest. The wrestler was 71 at the time of his death. Emergency responders were dispatched to Hogan's Florida residence after a 911 call about a suspected cardiac arrest.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was credited for revolutionising professional wrestling. The wrestler was also known for his controversial personal life. Back in 2015, Hogan was accused of racism, and his contract was suspended by WWE.
When Hulk Hogan was accused of racism
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In July 2015, Hulk Hogan faced major backlash after a leaked transcript revealed him using racist language during a private conversation. The audio came from a sex tape recorded years earlier. It was made public as part of his legal battle with Gawker Media.
In the clip, Hogan was heard making repeated use of the N-word while discussing his daughter Brooke's dating life, expressing anger and discomfort about her reportedly dating a Black man.
The fallout was immediate. WWE ended its contract with Hogan on 24 July 2015, removing all references to him from their website, including removing his Hall of Fame profile (though not officially removing him from the Hall of Fame itself). As per People and other outlets at the time, WWE said it was "committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds."
