Aspiring singer Brooke Hogan has come to the defense of her father, Hulk Hogan, after a recording of him making several racially-charged remarks was released last month.
Portions of a 2008 sex tape transcript of Hulk Hogan were released in late July by The Enquirer and Radar Online, during which he made disturbing and racist comments in regards to Brooke’s dating life.
Brooke recently told Entertainment Tonight that she stands by her father, saying, “He’s an easy target.” The 27-year-old said dating men of different races was never an issue with her family and added that her dad’s best friends are black, so of course he’s not a racist.
My dad’s best friends with Mr. T, he’s best friends with Dennis Rodman, he’s not racist. It’s just when you’re mad and you’re at the lowest point in your life …. you just choose ill-fitting words for that situation just to air your shorts out.
Since the racist remarks came to light, Dennis Rodman did come to Hogan’s defense on Twitter, saying, “There isn’t a racist bone in that man’s body.”
Brooke also suggested that since she doesn’t take offense to being called a “honkey,” black people shouldn’t take offense to the n-word.
I feel bad for my dad, but I also feel bad for the African-American fans and stuff because they don’t know that he didn’t mean it. You know, it would be offensive. But this is something that we have to put a stop to everyday, because I’ll be honest with you, I’ve had a black guy call me a honkey, and I’ve also been told that white people smell like bologna. I don’t take offense to it, I just laughed at it.
As a result of the surfaced recording transcription, Hulk Hogan was fired from the WWE and taken off their website completely.
Hogan released this statement to People following the release:
Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. 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.