Hulk Hogan admits regret over racist slur scandal in final documentary interview

Hulk Hogan admitted he was haunted for years by the fallout of a racist slur scandal that overshadowed the later stages of his career, describing it as an “echo” that continued to affect him long after the incident.

The wrestling icon, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died in July 2025 at the age of 71. 

In a posthumously featured interview recorded for the Netflix documentary Hulk Hogan: Real American, he reflected candidly on the controversy that led to his removal from WWE programming and his Hall of Fame status being temporarily revoked.

The scandal originated from a privately recorded video in 2007, later leaked in 2015 during Hogan’s legal dispute with gossip site Gawker. 

In the footage, he was heard using a racial slur during an argument involving his daughter, Brooke Hogan, and her then-boyfriend. 

The backlash that followed had long-lasting professional and personal consequences.

Speaking in the documentary, Hogan acknowledged his regret over the incident, saying the impact of his words “resonates and has an echo effect” that continued “vibrating for years.” 

He admitted he should have controlled his anger, adding that his reaction stemmed from a personal situation that escalated.

“I used a word. Yeah, I regret it,” he said. “Even under that heavy, crazy fire, I should have remained still and kept my mouth shut.”

He also described a pattern of public missteps throughout his life, reflecting on repeated mistakes and missed opportunities to take responsibility in the moment.

“I’ve driven the car, keep hitting the wall, crashing and burning,” he said, characterizing his own behaviour as impulsive and flawed.

Hogan previously issued apologies after the transcript of the tape surfaced online, though critics at the time questioned the sincerity of his response, particularly after he suggested his environment played a role in shaping his language.

Despite the controversy, he was later reinstated by WWE and made a final appearance for the company in 2025, though reports noted a mixed reaction from fans during the event.