Hulk Hogan Issues Statement, Apologizes for Using Offensive Language "Eight Years Ago"

Hulk Hogan has issued his statement through People Magazine, in response to all of the drama today about racist remarks leaked from an audio tape, resulting in his dismissal from WWE.

"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."

You’ll recall that Hogan issued discussed the sex tape back in 2012 in an interview here, and talked about how he went through a bad time, and issued a similar statement about changing and being in a better place.

" To have this whole new life and all of the sudden something that happened over six years ago, to drag this dead animal back to life is actually a blessing. After that cloud clears and the sun’s behind me, it’s just another test. It’s just another way to reinforce the fact that I’m a much better person than I was six years ago."

Will the public be as forgiving here? There’s a difference between a sex tape secretly recorded, and caught on tape, while cheating on his then-wife, and broader statements of racism. That, and the issue of how this additional info came to be leaked today, will be issues going forward.