RVD Defends Friendship with Hulk Hogan Despite Racism Controversy

Rob Van Dam has no problem being seen with Hulk Hogan—even if others do.

On a recent episode of his 1 of a Kind podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer addressed the backlash he received for posting a video hanging out with Hogan and Bam Margera. RVD made it clear: people can unfollow him if they don’t like who he associates with, and he’s not about to apologize for his friendships.

While discussing the controversy, RVD explained that people will always have their own values, and that doesn’t mean he shares them—or has to.

“You got your own values. So, um, when it comes to Hulk Hogan, I noticed that, um, there’s always been pushback. Like when I posted the video of us together that she was just showing you—when we’re hanging out with Bam and whatever—like, there were a few people, of course, there’s always going to be haters. But I know some of them watching this hate him, and that’s fine. Those are your values, um, based on whatever.”

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Some fans were vocal about their disapproval, which only made RVD double down.

“There’d be some people—not a lot—but some that would stand out for their ignorance in my mind because they’d be like, ‘Dude, man, I thought you were cool, but man, you f** around with that guy, I’m gonna unfollow you.’ Like, do it, motherf*****. There’s no difference between being back in fifth grade and being an adult when it comes to that. And I hope you can see the correlation.”*

RVD pushed back against the idea that society should dictate personal morals. He said everyone has the right to live by their own standards—even if those clash with others.

“Even if society is telling you that you should have these values—guess what? F** society when it comes to some of that stuff, because you have your own priorities, your own values, and you’re always going to be biased toward your own feelings. So you’re always going to feel like you’re right when there’s a disagreement or a clash of values.”*

The criticism over Hogan’s past racist remarks didn’t change RVD’s stance. He flipped the script by pointing out the hypocrisy in how people judge others.

“Now somebody says, ‘Yeah, but he was a racist. How could you hang out with a racist?’ Well, those are your values. That has nothing to do with me and my feelings on racism. You know what I mean? And let me ask you—how can you hang out with that wife beater? Yeah, your friend’s a wife beater.”

“Dude, what if that, for me and my values, is something I couldn’t get past? I’d never hang out with someone like that. Somebody who beats their wife isn’t a man. I think you have a right to prioritize your own values just like I do, and we can still meet on common ground.”

RVD also reflected on the kinds of people he’s crossed paths with throughout his life. He made it clear that being around people from different walks of life doesn’t define who he is—and he’s not going to change just to please others.

“So hold any of that against me that you want at any time, because all of that is true—and a lot more. You know what I mean? I’ve been associated to some level with all of that and plenty more. And that’s part of who I am.”

“Now, when it comes to other people’s values—how about ‘you are who you hang out with’? Okay. Yeah, when you’re a kid. That comes back to the reprogramming—when you’re an adult.”

Whether people agree with him or not, RVD isn’t backing down from his friendships—or from his beliefs about loyalty and personal freedom.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.