Hulk Hogan is speaking out after the WWE cut ties with the Hall of Fame wrestler following multiple reports that he allegedly used racial slurs in the past.

Shortly after audio surfaced from a 2012 radio interview where Hulk Hogan uses the n-word and reports that he also used similar language in a leaked sex tape from almost a decade ago, he addressed the situation today.

“Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation,” he said in a statement to ABC News. “It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”

He continued, “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. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs. It is not who I am. I continue to work every day to improve as a person, and this matter is an important learning experience for me in that regard. As a result I am resigning from my contractual relationship with the WWE.”