The controversies surrounding Hulk Hogan after his famous wrestling career

Remembering Hulk Hogan: A Legacy of Glory and Controversy

For those who grew up in the 1980s and 90s, Hulk Hogan represented an unforgettable figure in wrestling. However, in later years, he became a different persona altogether.

Hogan, who passed away Thursday at 71, faced numerous scandals as his life unfolded. This included controversies surrounding a sex tape and instances of racist remarks.

The man behind the character, Terry Borea, was once a larger-than-life hero during his peak days in WWE, famously known as “Hulkamania.”

As a fan favorite, Hogan was the quintessential babyface, battling villains and helping wrestling gain traction in popular culture, thereby cementing a lasting influence.

However, during his early WWE career—then known as WWF—Hogan became entwined in a steroid scandal. Initially, he denied claims about performance-enhancing drug usage, but eventually admitted to taking steroids after stepping away from the company for a time.

This tumult didn’t significantly dent his popularity, notably due to his role in forming the iconic NWO faction. Still, subsequent scandals began to alter public perception.

In 2012, things took a turn. Earlier, in 2006, a sex tape featuring Hogan, his friend Bubba The Love Sponge, and Bubba’s then-wife surfaced, causing considerable uproar.

At the time, Hogan claimed he was unaware he was being filmed, and Gawker released a snippet of the tape, leading Hogan to sue both Bubba and Heather, settling with Bubba later that year.

He then pursued Gawker for $100 million over privacy invasion and, after an extensive legal battle, acquired a substantial settlement that led to Gawker’s bankruptcy.

Then, in 2015, another scandal emerged—video evidence surfaced of Hogan using a racial slur during the aforementioned sex tape incident, which overshadowed his previous achievements.

He even made remarks disparaging his daughter Brooke’s choices, saying he preferred her to marry a wealthy athlete and, somewhat controversially, admitted, “I think we’re all a bit racist.”

WWE let go of Hogan after the backlash, though he claimed he resigned. He later issued an apology, stating, “Eight years ago, I used offensive language in a conversation that was unacceptable.”

His statement continued, expressing disappointment in himself and emphasizing that he believes everyone deserves respect regardless of background.

In a twist, Hogan was reintroduced into the WWE Hall of Fame three years later and was celebrated during a special broadcast in January 2025, marking the transition to the “Raw” era on Netflix.

However, upon his return to Los Angeles, the crowd booed him, a reaction largely stemming from the scandals that redefined their childhood hero.

He himself acknowledged the political environment, stating his confusion over President Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention, and suggested that this context contributed to the audience’s response.