World Wrestling Entertainment has cut all ties with one of its most well known stars, Hulk Hogan, after transcripts of the wrestler reportedly using the N-word and saying “I am a racist” were leaked online Friday.
The sealed transcripts, which were first published by The National Enquirer and RadarOnline.com, are reportedly transcribed dialogue from Hogan’s sex tape with Heather Clem, the wife of Tampa-area shock jock radio host Bubba “The Love Sponge” Clem. The transcripts, according to the outlets, were submitted as part of Hogan’s $100 million lawsuit against Gawker Media for publishing excerpts of the 2008 tape in 2012.
In the published transcripts, Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, discussed his daughter Brooke Bollea’s music career, which he suggested had been bankrolled by a “black billionaire” and his son.
“I mean, I don’t have double standards. I mean, I am a racist, to a point, fucking niggers. But then when it comes to nice people and shit, and whatever,” Hogan reportedly said. “I guess we’re all a little racist. Fucking nigger.”
He also bemoaned the wealthy backers’ motivations, saying, “I don’t know if Brooke was fucking the black guy’s son.”
Hogan has since apologized for the remarks, saying “This is not who I am” in a statement provided to PEOPLE magazine on Friday.
“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,” he said in the statement. “I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”
WWE said in a statement that the organization has terminated its contract with Hogan.
“WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide,” the statement said.
Hogan’s lawyer maintained to PEOPLE that the wrestler chose to resign from WWE because of the strain the ordeal would put on him and his family.
The announcement came a day after WWE began scrubbing references to Hogan from its site. The Daily Beast speculated that was spurred after an audio clip that surfaced of a 2012 radio interview, in which Hogan repeatedly referenced his penchant for saying “niggas.”
It’s not clear how the Enquirer and Radar obtained the transcripts, which were sealed by a Pinellas County, Florida court.
Before Hogan’s formal apology, his only response was a lone cryptic tweet from his verified Twitter account early this morning.
In the storm I release control,God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be,one love. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 24, 2015
