The Worm has The Hulkster’s back.
NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, who has courted controversy over his friendship with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, says Hulk Hogan is no racist.
Rodman came to Hogan’s defense after the WWE terminated its contract with the wrestling legend following the release of a leaked court document showing he used the N-word on a sex tape.
“I’ve known @HulkHogan for 25 years,” Rodman tweeted, according to the Daily News. “... There isn’t a racist bone in that mans body.”
“Lets lend our support to the Hulkster @HulkHogan who most certainly is not a racist,” Rodman tweeted at Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Mike Tyson.
Rodman and Hogan appeared together in a 1997 WCW tag team event that also featured ex-NBA star Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page. The News said Hogan had Rodman on his 2008 reality show “Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling” as a contestant.
Rodman has been criticized for several trips he has made to North Korea and for calling its dictator a friend. “Guess what. I love him,” Rodman said of Kim.
Wrestler Mick Foley and fellow WWE legend Virgil were also on Twitter to support Hogan, who responded to the tweets.
"My heart truly hurts for @HulkHogan,” Foley tweeted. “I firmly believe he's a very good person who made a very bad mistake. Pulling for you, brother!"
Hogan replied: "Thank you my brother Mick only love. H."
Virgil wrote: "Don't be takin @HulkHogan words out of text. That man has done more for me than almost anybody man."
"Thank you my brother Virgil. Only love HH," Hogan tweeted back.
The WWE canned Hogan Friday.
“WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide ,” WWE said in a statement.
Hogan has been accused of using the N-word to describe a man involved with his daughter, Brooke, in a leaked transcript of a sex tape that is the center of a multimillion dollar lawsuit with the gossip site Gawker.
After the news of the firing broke, Brooke Bollea posted a poem in support of her father, Fox Sports reported.
"If you knew the dad I knew/ you’d know his tender heart,” she wrote. “He’d never want to hurt his fans/or family from the start.”
Following the WWE's announcement, Hogan apologized for the remarks he made. His lawyer said Hogan resigned from the organization "because he didn't want to put them or his family through this."
"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," Hogan told People magazine. "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."
According to the transcript obtained by Radar Online and the National Inquirer, Hogan said on the tape, referring to his daughter: "I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f--k some n----r, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n----r worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player...I guess we’re all a little racist. F--king n----r."
Hogan, 61, has been removed from the WWE website. When you search for Hogan on the site, he is no longer listed on the WWE Hall of Fame page, and all of his merchandise has been removed from the WWE shop.
Fox411’s Diana Falzone and Sasha Bogursky contributed to this report.
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