Hulk Hogan: WWE confirms wrestler has been sacked in statement after racist audio claims

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has confirmed it has terminated Hulk Hogan’s contract.

The actor and wrestler's profile disappeared from the WWE superstars section overnight amid speculation a controversial audio clip of him using racial slurs was about to emerge.

A statement from WWE said: “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.”

A report by the National Enquirer claimed Hogan was fired over remarks he made in a sex tape, excerpts of which were posted by Gawker in 2012. The reports claims Hogan was recorded repeatedly using a racial slur on the tape, which is currently sealed in a Florida court as part of a $100 million privacy lawsuit launched by Hogan against Gawker Media.

A second audio clip was being shared on Friday, purportedly from an interview the 61-year-old did in 2012 with DJ Whoo Kid. In it, Hogan is questioned about his famous use of the word “brother” and whether he had ever used the word n****r to greet people.

Hogan reportedly responded with a reference to the notorious video of Booker T calling him a n****r during a promotional segment for their fight, saying: “Every time I pull up YouTube there’s that famous thing with Booker T and his brother is there and they’re all talking trash, and Booker T says, ‘I’m coming for ya Hogan, you n****r’—and not ‘n***a,’ he goes ‘n****r.

“And it’s still so cool, because the whole time I was down in Miami when I lived there, you know, everybody—I’d walk into the [DJ] booth and all of a sudden I’d bump into this guy and The Game’s in the booth, it’s all black and he’s got his BlackBerry, and I bump into him and he goes, ‘What’s up, n***a?’ and I said, ‘Oh, excuse me, bro!’ And he says, ‘No, it’s all cool,’” said Hogan.

He continued: “And everybody down there—Lil Wayne, Birdman—they’re all calling me ‘n***a,’ and then I started sayin’ it. And I always said it, but now all of a sudden I get heat when I say it, and they say, ‘Hogan, you can’t say that,’ so I say, ‘Why can they say it to me then?’”

The Independent has contacted Hogan's representatives for commment.

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