Hulk Hogan Breaks Silence Following Racism Scandal That Ended His Contract With the WWE: "I Should've Never Said What I Said"

Wrestler explained the reasoning behind his repeated use of the n-word

Hulk Hogan is ready to talk.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is finally speaking out after a secret recording that showed him making racist remarks was leaked earlier this summer. In a pre-taped interview with Good Morning America, Hogan admitted that this scandal has been harder than anything that he's ever been through, but he insisted he wasn't racist.

"I never should have said what I said," he confessed.

The former WWE star opened up about the home environment in which he was raised and said that the n-word, which he used repeatedly in the recording while talking about daughter Brooke Hogan's dating life, was thrown around like it was "nothing." He also said he was infuriated about a situation that happened between Brooke and her boyfriend.

As a result of the video leak, the WWE cut all ties with the wrestler and even erased all signs of him from their website. 

In a statement to E! News, the organization announced that it "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."

After the announcement was made, Hulk issued his own apology. "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," he told E! News.

"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."

In the interview with GMA, Hogan begged his fans to forgive him. "Oh my gosh please forgive me. Please forgive me. I'm a nice guy. It's not the Hulk Hogan that rips his shirt off and bang, bang, bang slams giants. I'm Terry Bollea I'm just a normal man," he insisted.

Although the fight was with his daughter, Hogan said he felt that she shouldn't have forgiven him. "And if anybody should have disowned me it should have been her," he said. "She should have been the one…she should have been the one to throw me out like the trash, but instead she showed me more love than anybody."