Ric Flair has entered the divisive public conversation surrounding the legacy of Hulk Hogan, offering a firm defense of his late friend against renewed criticism for past racist remarks. The comments from Flair come just days after Hogan’s death on July 24, an event that reignited debates over his controversial history.
During an appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Flair addressed the backlash Hogan has received. He explained that of 128 text messages he received regarding Hogan’s passing, not one contained anything negative. Flair argued that while people have flaws, the controversial remarks do not represent the man he knew.
“No, I’ll be honest with you—I knew you were going to ask me this question. If 128 people text me and not one of them says anything negative, you know what I mean? Everyone has their flaws and things happen that we can’t control. Whatever it was that made someone uncomfortable, it just went right past him,” Flair said.
Flair lamented that the issue continues to be brought up, attributing it to the nature of social media. He insisted that Hogan had already faced the consequences for his actions and continues to do so, even after his death.
“I hate that they always have to bring that up, but that’s just how social media works. Trust me—he was anything but that, and he paid the price. He’s paying badly,” Flair stated.
Hogan, born Terry Bollea, died of cardiac arrest at his Florida home at age 71. His passing prompted an outpouring of tributes but also saw a resurgence of the racism scandal that has long been a part of his complex public image, leading to a polarized discussion about his ultimate impact on pop culture. Flair’s defense positions him as a staunch supporter of Hogan’s character amid this ongoing debate.