Following wrestling icon Hulk Hogan's death at the age of 71 on July 24, 2025, a rumor circulated on social media about the timing coinciding with the anniversary of a racism scandal that emerged a decade earlier that led to World Wrestling Entertainment firing him on the same date in 2015.
For example, on July 24, one Instagram user wrote (archived): "Hulk Hogan died on the anniversary of his racist rant scandal where he called Black people the N-Word hard on the R, exactly 10 years later."
(Instagram user @farrahgray_)
The post had amassed more than 7,400 likes as of this writing. The claim also appeared on X (archived), Facebook (archived) and elsewhere on Instagram (archived), with users noting the apparent coincidence of the dates.
In short, the claim was true. Hulk Hogan was indeed fired by WWE on July 24, 2015, for racist comments he made years earlier. Multiple reputable news outlets, such as The New York Times (archived), The Guardian (archived) and Politico (archived) covered his firing on that date, which occurred exactly 10 years before his death on July 24, 2025.
Key facts about Hogan's 2015 WWE firing
The racist remarks that led to Hogan's WWE termination were captured in a private conversation from a 2006 sex tape involving Hogan and Heather Clem, the then wife of his friend Bubba the Love Sponge. Celebrity news and gossip website Gawker Media leaked the recording in 2012, which became central to Hogan's $100 million lawsuit (archived) against the outlet (archived).
In July 2015, tabloid newspaper The National Enquirer and entertainment and gossip website Radar Online released transcripts from the sex tape, revealing that Hogan used racial slurs multiple times while discussing his daughter Brooke Hogan's relationship with a Black man. In the recording, Hogan was heard saying, "I am a racist, to a point," and using the
Although multiple news outlets confirmed WWE's termination of Hogan's contract on July 24, 2015, the wrestling production company published a public statement (archived) via its website on Aug. 5, stating: "WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka 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."
The company also reportedly removed (archived) references to Hogan from its website, including his Hall of Fame profile, his merchandise from WWE Shop and his listing as a judge for the reality show "Tough Enough." However, the late wrestler does now appear on its website.
Hogan's response and aftermath
Hogan issued (archived) an apology through People magazine, stating: "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."
In a 2015 ABC News interview, Hogan described being in a dark emotional state at the time of the recording, saying he was "to the point where I wanted to kill [him]self" and felt "completely broken and destroyed."
WWE reinstated (archived) Hogan to its Hall of Fame in July 2018, three years after the firing.