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Celerity

(52,125 posts)
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 12:05 PM Jul 25

Hulk Hogan Was a Racist, Liar, and Scab



In the 1980s, the professional wrestler portrayed himself as an all-American hero—but he was really a “jabroni” the entire time.

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/hulk-hogan-racist-liar-scab-obit/

https://archive.ph/QSlNn


Professional entertainer and wrestler Hulk Hogan poses as he speaks on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

My 9-year-old self, uniformed in a Mets hat and Coke-bottle glasses, was a Hulkamaniac. It’s embarrassing now for countless reasons. I first saw the man born Terry Bollea as Thunderlips in the 1983 classic Rocky III. He was improbably muscled, blond, and tan: pure kid catnip. I became a World Wrestling Federation fanatic and was glued to the Zenith as Hogan rapidly climbed the WWF ladder. In January 1984, Hogan completed a meteoric rise to defeat the Iron Sheik and avenge the Iran hostage crisis (seriously). That title match wasn’t fake to me. It was as real as game 7 of the World Series, and when Hulk broke free from the Sheik’s dreaded “camel clutch” and secured the pin, I jumped up and down so much that the people downstairs called up to complain.

What I did not know was that there was a real world at odds with this ecstatic experience. I did not know that the Iron Sheik, a former Olympic wrestler who was once a bodyguard for the shah of Iran, could have cracked Hogan in two. He even almost went off script to do so because he found Hogan to be, as the Sheik put it, “a jabroni.” It was all 1980s fake, as fake as Reagan’s jet-black hair.

Now that Hulk Hogan has died at 71, the media, top wrestling honchos, and particularly the Trump administration are verbosely mourning this leather-skinned mass of steroids and bile stuffed in spandex. The media is treating Hogan’s death like they are in on a bit. They praise “Hulk Hogan” for being an American hero while ignoring that Terry Bollea led an ugly, amoral life; that he was accused of abuse by both one of his wives and a daughter; that he was broadly loathed by generations of wrestlers; and that his final act involved shilling full-time for Donald Trump. Hulk Hogan was a racist scab and a liar, which his prime-time appearance at Trump’s Republican National Convention a natural fit.

It is gratifying, however, that last Thursday is, in addition to the day of Hogan’s death, the 10th anniversary of the National Enquirer’s publishing audio of Hogan going on an n-word-laden tirade. The coincidence is serendipitous, allowing the legions he harmed to remind people that many mourning this man are mourning a myth. His racism also matters because it dovetails with years of complaints made by Black wrestlers about both his treatment of them and his role as WWF co-owner Vince McMahon’s right-hand man, making sure they never got a shot at his top spot. (In fairness, many white and brown wrestlers have made the same claim.)

snip

56 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Hulk Hogan Was a Racist, Liar, and Scab (Original Post) Celerity Jul 25 OP
I was clueless about this until one morning I heard Stephanie Miller telling the story of Mike 03 Jul 25 #1
Oh, that poor little girl. electric_blue68 Jul 25 #27
Hogan was an asshole LetMyPeopleVote Jul 25 #2
Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 25 #4
I will dig a few millimetres deep and declare you a POS MAGAt. Bye bye berk............ Celerity Jul 25 #5
Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 25 #6
Still desperately burning through alt accounts, eh? Celerity Jul 25 #7
I miss them already Orrex Jul 25 #14
may Trump soon follow them to obliteration Celerity Jul 25 #17
Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 25 #20
I miss you already. Orrex Jul 25 #22
lol Celerity Jul 25 #28
As are you EYESORE 9001 Jul 25 #8
they got in a few more posts than they normally do, roflmaoooo Celerity Jul 25 #15
He was an asshole, full stop. Bev54 Jul 25 #9
Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 25 #11
No difference if the body is cold or not an asshole is an asshole. No use covering it up. Bev54 Jul 25 #12
Why? A bellend is a bellend, whether dead or alive. Fuck Hulk Hogan. Celerity Jul 25 #13
"Speaking ill of the dead" is just a way to cover up abusers like Hogan obamanut2012 Jul 25 #10
Redundantly adding: And a THIEL-KRASNOV ahole. - I miss Gawker. UTUSN Jul 25 #3
He was no Gorgeous George. Sneederbunk Jul 25 #16
But...but...he was able to heroically rip off his own shirt rather than unbubutten it like most adults. Ping Tung Jul 25 #18
Thank you for filling in some gaps Celebrity, JMCKUSICK Jul 25 #19
I used to be entertained by him but find out he was an a hole kimbutgar Jul 25 #21
okay, realize this is stupid, given the overall message, but... slightlv Jul 25 #23
Erm.... COL Mustard Jul 25 #25
Sky Daily Celerity Jul 25 #26
And I made the comment just based on her Name!!! (LOL) This leaves no doubt! nt slightlv Jul 25 #31
He was a clown show, just like Trump and all the magat idols ToxMarz Jul 25 #24
Thank you. H2O Man Jul 25 #29
Does anybody here know that the Hulkster helped raise millions to charitable organizations? Gimpyknee Jul 25 #30
Or that Hitler liked H2O Man Jul 25 #32
Hitler and Charles Manson? That's quite a leap. Gimpyknee Jul 25 #35
Did you know he was a racist, misogynist, homophobe, and a dirty scab? obamanut2012 Jul 25 #36
I did. I wrote below. I met him out when he was fund raising for American Indian children. Melon Jul 25 #39
How would you be judged if you took a lifetime and recorded it? Then took your worst day and judged you by it. Melon Jul 25 #41
That falls on deaf ears here. Gimpyknee Jul 25 #42
I just got on to erase it until I saw this post. Melon Jul 25 #44
Just another steroid-addled phoney. Mr. Evil Jul 25 #33
I hate "professional wrestling", so I was never a Hulk Hogan fan. Aristus Jul 25 #34
Thanks for posting the reminder, for awhile B.See Jul 25 #37
I haven't heard the racist part, but I met him Melon Jul 25 #38
"I probably won't go search for the alternative about him..." LudwigPastorius Jul 26 #53
A waste of carbon bonds who contributed nothing of value to anyone. nt Maru Kitteh Jul 25 #40
Contributed nothing of value? Gimpyknee Jul 25 #46
Don't strong union wages mean less need for charity? leftstreet Jul 25 #49
Oh look, it's you again. Maru Kitteh Jul 26 #55
This message was self-deleted by its author Gimpyknee Jul 25 #47
There's a lot to be said about him Renew Deal Jul 25 #50
The truth malaise Jul 25 #43
I have to admit that before he came out as a scum I enjoyed watching him ificandream Jul 25 #45
Sure he was. Hulk Hogan and Terry Bollea were completely separate to a kid watching wrestling Melon Jul 25 #48
Your charitable contributions Keepthesoulalive Jul 25 #51
Good piece by Dave Zirin. Thanks. (nt) Pinback Jul 25 #52
Eww MorbidButterflyTat Jul 26 #54
There were worse people in the industry. The Grand Illuminist Jul 26 #56

Mike 03

(18,685 posts)
1. I was clueless about this until one morning I heard Stephanie Miller telling the story of
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 12:18 PM
Jul 25

a very young Black girl who had idolized Hulk Hogan until one day her mother told her (or someone else?) that Hulk Hogan "didn't like Black people," and it just broke her heart. That story and the way Stephanie told it was so poignant, just heartbreaking...

electric_blue68

(24,010 posts)
27. Oh, that poor little girl.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 03:10 PM
Jul 25

I barely,rarely ever paid attention to WWF, so I didn't know stuff circulating about him.

Response to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #2)

Response to Celerity (Reply #5)

Response to Celerity (Reply #17)

Response to Bev54 (Reply #9)

Bev54

(12,908 posts)
12. No difference if the body is cold or not an asshole is an asshole. No use covering it up.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:12 PM
Jul 25

obamanut2012

(28,842 posts)
10. "Speaking ill of the dead" is just a way to cover up abusers like Hogan
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:09 PM
Jul 25

He is 100% why pro wrestlers have no union, and 90% why MMA fighters don't.

He was racist, misogynistic, homophobic and a terrible person.

I am not speaking ill of the dead, I am telling truth.

And, unlike him, and I guess you, I am nothing like what he was and "digging" will unearth nothing.

oh, and MIRT!

Ping Tung

(3,701 posts)
18. But...but...he was able to heroically rip off his own shirt rather than unbubutten it like most adults.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:23 PM
Jul 25

But doing so thrilled young boys and one childlike president.

JMCKUSICK

(3,992 posts)
19. Thank you for filling in some gaps Celebrity,
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:35 PM
Jul 25

I posted yesterday and I wasn't aware of a lot of this stuff in my younger years also.

kimbutgar

(26,109 posts)
21. I used to be entertained by him but find out he was an a hole
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:47 PM
Jul 25

Hope he’s enjoying burning in hell. But Hulk can you also put in a good word to Satan to take the orange pedophile President asap to hell with you?

slightlv

(6,614 posts)
23. okay, realize this is stupid, given the overall message, but...
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 02:55 PM
Jul 25

did anyone pop into the article about Linda Hogan and her book? The guy's last wife (as of his death) was named "Sky Daily?" If that doesn't sound like a stripper's name, I don't know what does! (LOL)

ToxMarz

(2,567 posts)
24. He was a clown show, just like Trump and all the magat idols
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 03:03 PM
Jul 25

That's what passes for "character" to them.

H2O Man

(77,965 posts)
29. Thank you.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 03:18 PM
Jul 25

Recommended.

When I read he died, I thought, "Who cares?" You answered that -- racists, liars, and scabs.

Gimpyknee

(684 posts)
30. Does anybody here know that the Hulkster helped raise millions to charitable organizations?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 03:18 PM
Jul 25

Just asking.

H2O Man

(77,965 posts)
32. Or that Hitler liked
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 03:21 PM
Jul 25

small children? Or than Charlie Manson loved spiders?

Just asking.

Melon

(792 posts)
39. I did. I wrote below. I met him out when he was fund raising for American Indian children.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 06:18 PM
Jul 25

Melon

(792 posts)
41. How would you be judged if you took a lifetime and recorded it? Then took your worst day and judged you by it.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 08:36 PM
Jul 25

I’d say that is what you end up with here.
I looked it up and he has raised and donated millions to charity. He has his own charity called Dreamseekers for Native American youth. He granted over 200 wishes with make a wish. 200…that’s incredible and knowing 200 children as a dying wish wanted to meet hulk hogan. If you go out and find pictures they aren’t just white kids. He was one of the top requested make a wish hosts when he was wrestling.

Anyway. Sometimes it’s easy to label someone for life from a minute or a day.

Melon

(792 posts)
44. I just got on to erase it until I saw this post.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 08:49 PM
Jul 25

I sat with him and a Native American he was friends with and discussed his charity. If you look into it he did a lot of good for a lot of people. He was in a bad marriage and a bitter divorce and that carried through to his daughter. I wish I could erase many things I said during my own divorce.

Aristus

(70,947 posts)
34. I hate "professional wrestling", so I was never a Hulk Hogan fan.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 03:42 PM
Jul 25

In one of the descriptions of him in his death announcement, someone mentioned he had skin like a hot dog casing, and I laughed out loud at that perfectly apt summation.

As we say where I'm from:

"Day-um, he was a oggly sumbitch!"

B.See

(6,760 posts)
37. Thanks for posting the reminder, for awhile
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 06:07 PM
Jul 25

I was beginning to wonder whether the world was experiencing total HH amnesia.

Melon

(792 posts)
38. I haven't heard the racist part, but I met him
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 06:17 PM
Jul 25

Down in South Carolina having drinks. This was 15 years ago. He was supporting or doing some type of charity work for American Indian youth and he had an official with that organization with him who was Indian. He spoke about it for the time he was there and I came away a fan. He hung out and drank beers and was not a loud boisterous wrestler, but just good guy. I probably won’t go search for the alternative about him because he was truly a highlight of celebrities I’ve met. Very well spoken and was truly passionate about the Indian kids he was raising money for. I never saw the other part said by his daughter.

I use to see Ric Flair a lot also. I’ve heard he was a generous man but I saw only the hard drinking part.

Gimpyknee

(684 posts)
46. Contributed nothing of value?
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 08:53 PM
Jul 25

Take some time to look and see how many charities Hogan supported. Google makes it easy to do. With a little effort it would have prevented you from making an ill informed statement.

Response to Maru Kitteh (Reply #40)

ificandream

(11,398 posts)
45. I have to admit that before he came out as a scum I enjoyed watching him
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 08:52 PM
Jul 25

My son and I, who were wrestling fans, saw him one time at a wrestling match but he didn't wrestle. His alliance with Peter Thiel and taking down Gawker really made me ill. The WWE is really praising him on their website now, though he was no model for young fans after all the stupid stuff he did.

Melon

(792 posts)
48. Sure he was. Hulk Hogan and Terry Bollea were completely separate to a kid watching wrestling
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:23 PM
Jul 25

Hulk Hogan was an absolute role model for kids. He gave a wholesome message and donated his time to charity. Your kids weren’t following Terry Bollea, they watched the character Terry created.

Edit…we all watched wrestling in the late 80’s. That was must see tv back then.

Keepthesoulalive

(1,837 posts)
51. Your charitable contributions
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:56 PM
Jul 25

Doesn’t erase demeaning an entire race or group of people. Sometimes entertainers do charity events for publicity not because they care. He wanted to body slam vice president Harris. I think we have a good idea about his character or lack of.

The Grand Illuminist

(1,904 posts)
56. There were worse people in the industry.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 01:29 AM
Jul 26

Though the last part of Hogan's was deplorable, if you know where to look, he didn't scratch the surface of what a few examples did.

Chris Benoit- killed wife, son, then himself.

Killer Karl Kox- He was a loyal klansman in real life to the end.

Dick Murdock- He was also a klansman. He conned Tony Atlas to a party only for I r him to find out it was a KKK party.

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