Hulk Hogan's Legacy: Understanding vs. Cancel Culture

HULKAMANIACS UNITE! But Not Everyone is Ready to Forgive Hulk Hogan's Past Transgressions

The wrestling world was left reeling last Thursday when news broke that Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, had passed away at 71 due to a cardiac arrest. The legendary wrestler's untimely death sparked an outpouring of tributes and condolences from fans and fellow wrestlers alike. However, not everyone is ready to let bygones be bygones when it comes to Hogan's infamous past.

In the wake of his passing, online trolls have taken to social media to "cancel" Hogan for good, citing his 2007 racist remarks that surfaced in a leaked tape. The Hulkster's use of the N-word and his assertion that he was "racist to a point" sparked widespread outrage at the time. Now, some are calling for him to be forever shunned from the wrestling world.

But not everyone agrees with this harsh stance. WWE Hall of Famer Torrie Wilson, who got her start in the industry thanks to a three-month storyline with Hogan on WCW, spoke exclusively to The Scholarly Note about her feelings on the matter.

"I don't think anyone should be judged solely on their worst moments," Wilson said. "We all have good qualities and bad qualities, and sometimes those bad qualities are low points in life that just happen to get a lot of attention."

Wilson's comments come as no surprise, given Hogan's role in launching her career. The blonde bombshell has long credited the Hulkster with helping her get her foot in the door in the wrestling world.

In addition to Wilson, Booker T, a fellow WWE Hall of Famer and close friend of Hogan's, recently spoke out about the wrestler's character. During an appearance on his podcast, Booker recalled an incident where he accidentally used a racist slur during a live promo in 1997. According to Booker, Hogan supported him during the fallout from the mistake and never tried to get him fired or punished.

"A racist would have said, 'Man, I'm gonna get this sucker fired,'" Booker explained. "But that's not what Hulk did. He was shocked and didn't try to use my mistake against me."

Hogan's own past transgressions are well-documented. In 2007, a leaked tape surfaced featuring the wrestler making racist remarks about his daughter Brooke and using the N-word multiple times. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to Hogan being fired from WWE.

However, in the years since, Hogan has attempted to apologize for his actions. During an appearance on Good Morning America in 2015, he begged his fans to forgive him and apologized to his daughter Brooke.

"I was upset about something that happened between her and her boyfriend," Hogan explained. "If anybody should have disowned me it should have been her."

But many were not convinced by Hogan's apology. In fact, some felt that he failed to truly acknowledge the gravity of his actions.

"He spoke about being careful what you say around a camera rather than actually addressing the content of what he said," one insider revealed.

Fast forward to 2023, and Hogan seemed to downplay the controversy in an interview with People.

"It was just a speed bump," he claimed. "It's not who I was."

However, it seems that some of his fans are still holding him accountable for his past mistakes.

Influencer Joey Swoll recently faced backlash on social media after posting a video of himself wearing a Hulk Hogan shirt at the gym. The 28-year-old influencer was forced to issue a groveling apology and delete the post, citing "respect" for the late wrestler's family.

Meanwhile, WWE star Chelsea Green received death threats and was forced off social media last week after she dared to honor Hogan in an interview following his passing.

As for Wilson, she remains steadfast in her defense of Hogan. Despite his past mistakes, she believes that everyone deserves a second chance.

"We all have good qualities and bad qualities," she said. "And sometimes those bad qualities are low points in life that just happen to get a lot of attention."

The Scholarly Note reached out to WWE for comment on the controversy surrounding Hogan's passing, but the organization declined to respond.

As the wrestling world continues to grapple with the legacy of Hulk Hogan, one thing is clear: not everyone is ready to forgive and forget.