World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. has cut ties with the professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, reportedly due to sealed transcripts quoted by the National Enquirer and Radar on Friday morning in which Hogan (real name: Terry Bollea) refers to black people as “fucking niggers” and admits that “I am a racist, to a point.”

Update, 9:45 a.m.

The Enquirer and Radar have published excerpts of transcripts submitted to a Florida court overseeing Hulk Hogan’s $100 million lawsuit against Gawker Media. In the transcripts, reportedly transcribed from a sex tape depicting Hogan having sex with the wife of Tampa-area radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, the wrestler reportedly discusses his daughter Brooke Bollea’s business and personal relationships with a “black billionaire,” who apparently offered to fund his daughter’s burgeoning music career, and the billionaire’s son. Some excerpts:

“I don’t know if Brooke was f*cking the black guy’s son,” Hulk raved, the sources add.

“I mean, I don’t have double standards. I mean, I am a racist, to a point, f*cking n*ggers. But then when it comes to nice people and sh*t, and whatever.” ...

According to sources, he said: “I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f*ck some n*gger, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n*gger worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player!

“I guess we’re all a little racist. Fucking n*gger.”

It is not precisely clear how the Enquirer or Radar obtained the transcripts, which are currently under seal in Pinellas County, Florida. According to the tabloid, “an extensive news probe uncovered five independent sources who provided the dramatic contents of the tape to this publication.”

Update, 10:15 a.m.

WWE has terminated its relationship with Hogan:

“WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan),” the organization told Us Weekly in a statement on Friday. “WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

(Hogan’s attorney tells TMZ, however, that “Hulk claims he was NOT fired, and actually resigned from the WWE late Thursday night.”)

Update, 11:40 a.m.

In a statement to People, Hogan apologized for referring to black people as “fucking niggers,” among other utterances revealed in the transcripts:

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.

Hogan’s apology comes less than a day after WWE began erasing references to the wrestler from its website. Per Wrestling News Source (as highlighted by The Daily Beast’s Marlow Stern):

On WWE.com, Hogan is no longer listed on the WWE Hall of Fame page, and all of his merchandise has also been removed from WWEShop.com. The only thing currently remaining that mentions Hogan involves WWE’s upcoming Australian tour, which Hogan was scheduled to take part in as General Manager. However, when any attempt to access this page is made, a message appears stating “you are not authorized to access this page.”

The Daily Beast speculated that the removal is tied to a 3-year-old audio clip from a radio show where Hogan discussed being referred to, and referring to others, as “niggas” and “niggers.” Per the gossip website MediaTakeOut, however, the erasure is likely tied to the court transcripts referenced by the Enquirer.

Hogan is suing Gawker Media for $100 million in Pinellas County, Florida for publishing excerpts of a video tape depicting him having sex with Heather Clem, the wife of Bubba the Love Sponge Clem.

The only comment from Hogan so far is a cryptic tweet issued earlier today:

Neither WWE nor Hogan’s lawyer, Charles Harder, immediately returned requests for comment. If you know any more about this, please get in touch.

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