Why was Hulk Hogan suspended from WWE Hall of Fame? 2015 controversy explored

Hulk Hogan, who was suspended from the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 after a video recording of him using the N-word resurfaced, died on Thursday. According to TMZ, which was the first platform to report the news, the famed professional wrestler suffered a cardiac arrest, after which emergency services were called to his home. He was taken to the hospital, where he was later declared to have passed away. The official account of WWE released a statement saying:

"WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Gene Bollea, rose to fame in the 1970s after he first won the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship. He later adopted the stage name of Hulk Hogan, drawing inspiration from the Incredible Hulk of the Marvel comics. But his legacy, which spanned decades, was blemished by his often controversial statements, especially those that resurfaced in 2015.

More about the controversy involving Hulk Hogan, as the former wrestling legend passes away

According to Distractify, Hulk Hogan was recorded going on a racist rant, where he used the N word several times, targeting his daughter's then-boyfriend. This rant, which took place in 2007, came to light in 2015 when Hogan was involved in filing a lawsuit against Gawker Media. He had filed the lawsuit after a video of him and Heather Clem, the former wife of his close friend, Todd Alan Clem, sharing a private moment, was leaked by the outlet.

According to The Guardian, another controversy soon followed when the tapes of him using racist language were released as part of the lawsuit. In the video, he can he heard saying:

"I am a racist, to a point, f**king n****rs” – as “offensive” and “unacceptable”

This led to widespread criticism from the general public, and soon, World Wrestling Entertainment announced that they were withdrawing his name from the WWE Hall of Fame. At that time, Hogan was also relieved from all his official capacities at the organization. They released a statement addressing the controversy, and saying:

"WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (a.k.a. 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.”

Later, Hulk Hogan also released a statement where he apologized for the incident, and said:

"Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. 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."

He further added:

"I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.”

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In 2018, just three years later, he was once again reinstated into the official WWE Hall of Fame.

Hulk Hogan, who was seventy-one years old at the time of his death, is survived by his third wife, Sky Daily, and two children from his first marriage to Linda Hogan.

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