By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Titus O’Neil and the New Day members Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods released statements on social media regarding Hulk Hogan’s speech to the WWE wrestlers at WWE Extreme Rules. Read both statements below.
My TRUTH!! pic.twitter.com/3HgsmXOOEg
— Titus O’Neil (@TitusONeilWWE) July 18, 2018
— King T’Kofi (@TrueKofi) July 18, 2018
Powell’s POV: I respect the thoughtful statements from O’Neil and the New Day members. The thing that stands out most to me is O’Neil pointing out that Hogan seemed to lack true remorse for the racist comments he made on more than one occasion. The New Day statement seemed to touch on it also, while O’Neil took the direct approach. The question remains whether Hogan is truly sorry for the hateful comments he made or simply sorry that he was caught making those statements when he was recorded without his knowledge by Bubba the Love Sponge or when he visited his son in jail. I obviously was not in the room to hear Hogan’s speech to the WWE talent, so I have to rely on O’Neil’s version of the events. It’s possible that Hogan’s lack of an actual apology or remorse for the racist statements was an oversight on his part, but it’s obviously a huge one even if that is the case. Hogan has yet to publicly address either statement as of this update.
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How can Titus be the judge if someone is truly sorry or not? Jason I usually respect you, but this is a non-story. Titus gets his 15 minutes, because you allow it.
It’s not about whether Hogan is sorry, it’s what he’s sorry for. Again, is he sorry about what he said or is he sorry that he was caught saying it? Based on what Titus and others who were in the meeting have said, Hogan’s message was to be careful because you never know when you’re being filmed in this day and age. And while that’s true, he apparently missed the bigger point that you shouldn’t say those things publicly or privately.
Fake outrage strikes again! This so called racist outrage needs to stop! I hope that Titus didn’t trip on his way to the arena! A non issue…..next…
Because Hogan addressed the speech to the locker room? That would seem to imply that the audience’s reactions are important.
And he’s combating false reports about him. He isn’t instigating anything.