World Wrestling Entertainment has fired its franchise star Hulk Hogan after reports surfaced of an audio recording of Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, using racial slurs.
“WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the Connecticut-based entertainment company said in a statement. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”
CNBC reports WWE has “scrubbed Hogan from its website and hall of fame page, and that his merchandise (is) no longer for sale in the online store.”
TMZ reports the audio recording is connected to an ongoing $100 million lawsuit with Gawker over a sex tape:
Our sources say the WWE fired Hogan after learning of a transcript of comments made on his sex tape. Hogan is in the middle of a lawsuit over the tape … and the n-word remarks are expected to come out once the trial begins later this year.