As a lifelong film enthusiast with a keen eye for wrestling lore and American politics, I find myself both saddened and baffled by the latest antics of Hulk Hogan, the larger-than-life wrestler turned political pundit. It’s been a while since I watched WrestleMania III, but even then, Hulkster’s heroics were always about unity and justice – not about stirring up racial divisiveness or inciting violence against political opponents.
Hulk Hogan, most recently, has joined the ranks of prominent supporters of Donald Trump, expressing doubts about the racial identity of Vice President Kamala Harris. This comes after Trump’s puzzling remarks at a gathering of Black journalists in July, where he questioned whether Harris is Indian or Black. In reality, Harris, much like more than 10% of the American population, identifies as multiracial; her father was Jamaican, and her mother was from India. Previously, Hercules‘ Kevin Sorbo had also posted a racially charged comment about Harris.
At a gathering in Medina, Ohio, intended to unveil his latest brew, Real American Beer, Hogan (born Terry Bollea) addressed the audience and inquired: “What do you say we give this beer a try?”
“Is Kamala a chameleon? Is she Indian?”
Not only did Hogan add fuel to the fire with his initial comments, but he also took it a step further by mimicking a stereotypical Native American gesture and joking about physically confronting the Democratic Presidential nominee. In a video obtained by TMZ, Hogan can be seen inciting the crowd with enthusiasm:
“Do you want me to body slam Kamala Harris?! Do you want me to drop the leg on Kamala?!”
Later, Hogan admits he might face criticism for what he said, but quickly jokes, “It was the alcohol speaking, I suppose.”
The next day, I shifted my stance at a subsequent gathering in Columbus, Ohio, promoting unity rather than divisive language and engaging with politicians instead of stirring up racial tension. In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch (who informed me that queries about Harris were off-limits), I expressed:
Having lived through various stages of my life and witnessed diverse cultures, I firmly believe that despite the chaotic state of the world today, we, the people of Columbus, are remarkably alike beneath our surface differences. My personal experiences have taught me that if we take the time to engage in heartfelt conversations, we’d discover shared values such as love, peace, health, and safety. These universal human concerns unite us more profoundly than any perceived differences could ever divide us.
Donald Trump is Hulk Hogan’s Hero
Last month, just days after Trump’s July 13 assassination attempt, Hogan gave an impassioned speech at the Republican National Convention. In true Hulkster fashion, he ripped his shirt to reveal a Trump/Vance tank top underneath. During his address, Hogan praised Trump as his “hero” and the “toughest of them all,” and spoke about the attempt on Trump’s life. Given the recent incident and the overall divisiveness of US politics ahead of November’s presidential election, it’s wildly unethical to promote violence against candidates in an effort to work up a crowd… someone should let Hogan know.
While Hogan is one of the world’s most recognized wrestlers, he doesn’t exactly have a perfect record. A racist remark landed him in hot water before: in 2015, the WWE removed Hogan from their Hall of Fame after a tape (from 2007) showed him using the N-word in reference to his daughter’s boyfriend. At the time, Hogan called the incident the biggest mistake of his life. In 2018, the company reinstated him after Hogan made “numerous apologies” and worked alongside “young people, where he is helping them learn from his mistake.”
At present, the Democratic Party is holding its Convention in Chicago, where they plan to officially nominate Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as their presidential team.
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2024-08-22 18:01