Vince McMahon Slammed For Saying WWE Legend Hulk Hogan Wasn't A Racist Despite Saying 'Racist Things'

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon has ignited new controversy on social media after defending the late Hulk Hogan in a new documentary.

In the documentary, McMahon, 79, addressed Hulk Hogan's infamous racist rant, defending the wrestling giant and insisting the 71-year-old was not an intolerant person.

For those unfamiliar, Hogan was at the center of a major scandal after a 2007 audio recording of him using the N-word to describe his daughter's Black boyfriend was leaked to the public. In the recording, Hogan could be heard saying that we're all "a little racist" before saying he'd prefer his daughter date a rich "n-gger worth a hundred million dollars" if she were to date someone Black.

After the incident, the WWE cut ties with Hogan, removing him from the WWE Hall of Fame. However, years later, the company reinstated the "Hogan Knows Best" star and continued their working relationship.

During the new TMZ documentary, "The Real Hulk Hogan," McMahon weighed in on the matter, attempting to reframe Hogan's legacy. Despite calling his words "unforgivable," McMahon insisted that Hogan—real name Terry Bollea—wasn't a bigot.

According to McMahon, Hogan wasn't a "racist." The American businessman said he felt confident enough to make that statement because he had spent many years working with the wrestling champion at WWE.

"He wasn't racist," he said. "He said some racist things. He should pay for that, and he did. In the end, I think everyone saw the real Hulk Hogan, Terry Bollea, and they felt, 'Wait a minute, this guy doesn't act like a racist. He's not a racist.'"

McMahon went on to say that everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves, regardless of how big of a mistake they've made.

On social media, the reaction to McMahon's statements was fierce and critical, with users slamming him for attempting to reframe the narrative surrounding Hogan's infamous audio recording.

"Of course Vince would say that," someone wrote, while another said, "Like anyone believes a word Vince says." A third user chimed in and posted, "One of the racist things he said was telling us he was racist."

Someone else added, "One racist covering for another."

A fifth user shared an entirely different perspective, writing, "Terry Bollea was a racist. Not Hulk Hogan. You can love the character of Hulk Hogan but disagree with Terry. What does it matter now anyway?"

And McMahon isn't the only public figure to rush to Hogan's defense following his death. Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport also ruffled some feathers after telling listeners of his podcast that he didn't "care" about the wrestling legend's "controversy outside of the ring."

"I don't care about his endorsing [Donald] Trump, I don't care about the stuff that was controversial, we're not going to be disrespecting the man with the 18-inch pythons," he said. "Forget you as an adult, sicko. Think about the kids."

Another WWE staple, Kevin Nash, echoed something similar on the July 28 episode of his podcast, saying "f-ck" the people who were repeatedly referencing his past.

"Ain't nothing's gonna change now. It's sensationalism. It's, 'You know, I never like him anyway.' Who gives a f-ck? I know he doesn't. I know he didn't," Nash continued.

Years after Hogan's racist rant made headlines, the reality star issued a public apology, attempting to clear the air and right his wrongs. In a statement covered in a previous report by The Blast, Hogan called his behavior "unacceptable" before assuring his fans that he wasn't a hateful person.

"This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs, or otherwise," Hogan said in 2015. "I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs."

Ten years later, in July 2025, Hogan died at the age of 71 after suffering a heart attack. He is survived by his two children, Nick and Brooke Hogan, and his widow, Sky Daily.