WWE severs ties with wrestling star Hulk Hogan
— -- STAMFORD, Conn. -- World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has severed ties with Hulk Hogan.
The company deleted most references to Hogan on its website and issued a statement Friday saying it had terminated its contract with one of the biggest stars in the history of professional wrestling.
The company did not give a reason, but issued a statement saying it is "committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide."
The move came amid a joint report from RadarOnline.com and The National Enquirer that Hogan used racial slurs in a conversation caught on a sex tape he is fighting in court to keep private.
"Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation," Hogan said Friday in a statement released to People Magazine. "It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.
"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. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs."
Hogan's publicist didn't immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
