Booker T and Hulk Hogan (Photos via Getty Images)
Booker T has opened up on his feelings regarding Hulk Hogan possibly being a racist following the latter’s death last week.
The Hulkster passed away from a heart attack at the age of 71 last Thursday. His death has seen the darker aspects of his career resurface, including his admission of being “racist to a point” in a shocking 2007 rant.
Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, was heard making the claim in leaked audio in which he expressed frustration over his daughter Brooke dating a Black man. He used the N-word several times in the audio clip, which became public in 2015.
The leak led to WWE terminating his contract and removing all traces of him from their brand. He was also ousted from the Hall of Fame, a decision which was ultimately reversed.
He offered a public apology, begging fans to forgive him before being reinstated and returning to the promotion.
It doesn’t appear that Booker needed much convincing, as he does not believe Hulk was a racist, despite the late star’s own admission.
He was more inclined to forgive because Hogan gave him a pass after he accidentally used the N-word to describe the ex-nWo chief in a WCW promo in 1997.
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Booker T Explains Why He Doesn’t Believe Hulk Hogan Was A Racist
MOBILE, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 9: Booker T makes his entrance during SmackDown at the Mobile Civic Center on October 9, 2001 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by WWE/WWE via Getty Images)
According to quotes cited by the Daily Mail, the 60-year-old expected Hulk to try to get him fired.
“People labeled Hulk Hogan a racist [in 2015] when he made his comments,” he said. ‘You normally know a racist by the people that they hang with, their friends. You normally know a racist by their kids.”
“At that moment when I said that about Hulk Hogan, I said, “Man, that was a moment right there for Hulk Hogan if he was a racist,” he explained. “A racist would have said, “Man, I’m gonna get this sucker fired. I’m gonna do my best to get him out of here.” A racist would have said, “Man, I’m gonna have him working for me now.” That’s what a racist would have did.”
Booker T and Hulk spoke about the incident after it happened. Hulk was said to be shocked that the younger star thought he might try to get him booted.
“I asked Hulk Hogan why didn’t he get me fired, why didn’t he go to the office and lobby to get me out of there,” he said. ‘He was, like, in shock. He was like: “Brother I heard that word many times so it wasn’t anything… I wouldn’t go try to get another one of the wrestlers fired.”‘
Of course, Booker wasn’t a big fan of Higan using the N-word in that leaked tape 10 years ago and took to Twitter/X to share that it was “2015 and the n-word should be eradicated from the English language in my opinion.”
