Vince McMahon has defended the late Hulk Hogan, insisting the wrestling legend was not racist – despite ‘saying some racist things.’
Hogan – real name Terry Bollea – died late last month at the age of 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
He was the biggest name in professional wrestling, enjoying superstardom and spreading ‘Hulkamania’ around the world.
But Hogan also endured a number of scandals that damaged his legacy – both in and out of the ring.
Back in 2015, he was heard using racial slurs when discussing his daughter love life. On the tapes, in which he ranted about Brooke sleeping with a black man, Hogan said: ‘I am a racist, to a point, f***ing n****s’.
WWE cut ties with Hogan over the outburst before McMahon brought back his biggest star a few years later.
Vince McMahon has defended the late Hulk Hogan, insisting the wrestling icon was not racist
The longtime boss and face of WWE has battled his own scandals in recent years. McMahon, who is currently fighting sordid allegations of sex trafficking, told TMZ: ‘I knew he wasn’t a racist, I’d been with him for so many years.
‘He wasn’t a racist. He said some racist things, and he should pay for that, and he did. But in the end, I think that everyone saw the real Hulk Hogan, Terry Bollea and they felt: “Wait a minute.
‘This guy, he doesn’t act like a racist, he’s not a racist. We all make mistakes. That was a big one, but he wasn’t a racist.’
Hogan later branded his own comments ‘offensive’ and ‘unacceptable’. He also begged for ‘forgiveness’ in a tearful interview on Good Morning America. ‘I’m a nice guy,’ Hogan said.
McMahon stepped down as WWE CEO three years ago after it was revealed the company investigated allegations of sexual misconduct. Then in 2024, McMahon resigned as executive chairman of WWE parent company TKO Group holdings when a former employee, Janel Grant, sued him for sexual trafficking. That lawsuit remains pending and McMahon has denied the allegations.
The legendary promoter bought the World Wrestling Federation from his father more than four decades ago. Since then, the brand has changed to World Wrestling Entertainment, while becoming an international sensation with various properties continuously touring around the world.
Meanwhile McMahon’s wife, Linda, is now Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education after helping to get him elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2024.