The wrestling world was stunned when an audio clip of former hall of famer Hulk Hogan’s repeated usage of the N-word surfaced. Since then, Hogan was stripped of his contract with the WWE entity and issued an apology for his statements.
Recently, Hogan’s friend and former boxer George Foreman came to his defense, but now another colleague is speaking out.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared his sentiments on the matter during an appearance at HBO’s Television Critics Association event on Thursday (July 30). In a response issued to Entertainment Weekly, the actor said, “I was pretty disappointed at what I heard.” The Ballers star continued, “I’ve known [Hulk Hogan] for a lot of years. My dad helped train him in Florida in the ’70s when he was breaking into the business. My uncles helped train him as well. So I’d not known him to be racist.”
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Johnson ended his statement with, “It’s funny, it’s one of those things where—I’m not justifying what he said—but we’ve all talked trash. Especially in private. He said what he said and now he’s paying the price.”
People on social media have shown a wave of support for Hogan, to which he took to his Twitter account to acknowledge.
I’m overwhelmed by the love and support of the millions of people that never 4 a moment left my side,I’m grateful,truly humbled,only love HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 27, 2015
Thank you everyone for believing in me and knowing me”who I really am”,I’m tired now,with u guys by my side I’m ready for tomorrowonlyloveHH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 27, 2015
This is how I feel today,with friends ,family,and the greatest fans in the world”MANIACS”that never left meOnlyLoveHH pic.twitter.com/9BpJbi5LDq
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 27, 2015
Unless u went through this,true loyality and love has a different meaning,it makes u want to live and not die,4those that never left me I am
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 27, 2015
Forever grateful and love u with all my heart life,only love 4u. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 27, 2015
For those that left me and didn’t stand by my side,u will see and I will prove,who i really am and u will also understand my love for u 0LHH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 27, 2015