Hulk Hogan is dead at 71, but on the internet, the mourning has been… complicated.
Following news that the WWE legend died of cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, many fans took to social media to share tributes. But just as quickly, others began reposting the scandal that rocked his reputation nearly a decade ago—reminding the world that not everyone was ready to let the past be buried with him.
See also: Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Icon and Pop Culture Phenomenon, Dead at 71
The Moment Hulk Hogan’s Mythology Cracked
In 2015, a private tape of Hogan surfaced in which he was heard making deeply offensive comments about Black people—specifically about his daughter Brooke’s romantic relationships. At one point, he reportedly complained about her dating “f***ing Black guys.”
But that wasn’t the only clip. In a separate recorded prison phone call with his son Nick—who was incarcerated at the time for a car crash that nearly killed his passenger—Hogan used coded language to imply he didn’t want to be reincarnated as a Black person.
“You know that God gave you this vibe and this energy that you and I are going to live forever,” he said. “I just hope we’re not reincarnated as a couple of… blizz-ack gizz-uys, you know what I’m saying?”
The backlash was swift and brutal. WWE cut ties with Hogan almost immediately. He was removed from their website, suspended from all appearances, and scrubbed from the Hall of Fame. At the time, Hogan issued an apology, saying he was “disappointed in myself” and asked for forgiveness.
See also: Was Hulk Hogan Really in a Coma? Cause of Death Revealed
Forgiveness, Redemption—and Who Gets a Rewrite
Years later, WWE quietly reinstated Hogan into the Hall of Fame and began featuring him again. But the damage to his image remained—and now, with his death, the debate over how (or whether) to remember him is back.
Yes, Hulk Hogan transformed pro wrestling into a global phenomenon. But he also said what he said. And while his public statements were eventually followed by apologies, many fans—particularly Black wrestling fans—felt those words came too late, and that WWE was far too eager to move on.
Now, as WWE prepares a likely tribute and mainstream outlets frame him as a beloved icon, the internet is doing what it always does: reminding people of the version of history that official tributes often leave out.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Fernando Eslava in Cultura Colectiva.
