Advertisement

Dwayne Johnson says of Hulk Hogan: 'We've all talked trash'

 
Dwayne Johnson arrives at the premiere of "San Andreas" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles in May. While speaking to TV critics Thursday about his HBO series "Ballers," Johnson was asked to comment on the tape of Hulk Hogan making racist comments. Johnson, also a former pro wrestler, said he was "disappointed" when he heard about Hogan's remarks, but also said the comments didn't match his personal history with him. [Associated Press]
Dwayne Johnson arrives at the premiere of "San Andreas" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles in May. While speaking to TV critics Thursday about his HBO series "Ballers," Johnson was asked to comment on the tape of Hulk Hogan making racist comments. Johnson, also a former pro wrestler, said he was "disappointed" when he heard about Hogan's remarks, but also said the comments didn't match his personal history with him. [Associated Press]
Published July 31, 2015

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Dwayne Johnson says he was disappointed when he heard about a tape of Hulk Hogan using racial slurs.

Johnson, also a former pro wrestler, told a TV critics' meeting Thursday that the remarks didn't match his personal history with Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea.

"I've known Terry for a lot of years, and my dad helped train him in Florida in the '70s when he was breaking into the business. I come from a very long line of lineage of professional wrestlers. I had not known the man to be racist," said Johnson, who was at the meeting to talk about his HBO series, Ballers.

He acknowledged: "We've all talked trash, you know, especially in private. He said what he said, and he's paying the price."

The 61-year-old Hogan has suffered backlash despite apologizing in a statement for using "offensive language."

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. severed ties with him this week.

Also Thursday, a judge set a March 2016 trial date for a lawsuit brought by Hogan against Gawker Media for releasing a sex tape that contained the comments.