WWE Terminates Contract With Hulk Hogan After Wrestler Admits to Being Racist in a Secretly Taped Video

"I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs," the wrestler says

The WWE wants nothing to do with Hulk Hogan.

After his debut in the '80s, Hogan (real name: Terry Bollea) became one of the most celebrated wrestlers of all time. However, Radar Online and The National Enquirer revealed Friday that he was taped making racist remarks many years ago.

In a statement to E! News Friday, the organization announced that it has "terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide."

All mentions of Hulk have been removed from WWE's website.

Hulk likely knew the WWE's decision was coming. Prior to the WWE's announcement, he tweeted, "In the storm I release control, God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be, one love. HH."

However, his lawyer, David Houston, claimed the decision to part ways came from Hulk himself. "He decided to resign from WWE because he didn't want to put them or his family through this," he said.

Hulk also issued an apology Friday morning.

"Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation," he told E! News. "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 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."

A transcript of the audio showed Hulk, a 12-time world champion and former Vh1 reality star, using the n-word repeatedly in reference to his daughter Brooke Hogan's dating life. Hulk said he hopes to "improve as a person" and considers this ordeal to be an "important learning experience" for the future.

Meanwhile, Hulk's trial for his high-profile lawsuit against gossip site Gawker was recently delayed until at least the fall. The wrestling star's legal team filed a $100 million lawsuit against the website after its 2012 posting of a sex tape, made in 2008, featuring Hogan. The tape was later removed from Gawker.

E! News has also reached out to Brooke for comment.