In a candid new conversation, former WWE CEO Vince McMahon is standing by his longtime friend and wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, despite the late star’s most infamous controversy.
“I knew he wasn’t a racist,” McMahon told TMZ. “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 [like] ‘Now, 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.”
— Videosareforever99 (@videosaregood) August 13, 2025
Hogan, who once admitted on tape to being “racist to a point” and used the N-word repeatedly.
Hogan returned to WWE after issuing multiple public apologies, but he was a die-hard MAGA fan.
Last year, in a video obtained by TMZ, a video circulated online of Hogan asking the jeering crowd: “Do you want me to body slam Kamala Harris?! […] Do you want me to drop the leg on Kamala?!” he continued.
Hulk Hogan asks crowd if he should body slam Kamala and whether she’s Indian. Now you can see why he was given a top speaking spot at the RNC. pic.twitter.com/yRh8GYpO5v
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) August 20, 2024
There has been backlash since Hogan’s death regarding his past remarks. Several celebrities have spoken out to defend his legacy, including Marlon Wayans and Claressa Shields.
