Hulk Hogan will not appear in the next version of the 2K's professional wrestling franchise, WWE 2K16.

Hogan made headlines earlier this week when the WWE severed ties with the wrestler for allegedly using "racial slurs in a conversation caught on a sex tape." (via CBS News)

A representative from publisher 2K wrote in a statement to GameSpot, "We are highly respectful of the way that our partners choose to run their business and manage our partnerships accordingly. We can confirm that Hulk Hogan will not appear in WWE 2K16.”

The WWE has since removed Hogan's photos, articles, and merchandise from its website.

In a statement to People.com, Hogan offered up an apology for his behavior, stating, "It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it."

Hogan's earliest video game appearance was the Commodore 64 game MicroLeague Wrestling in 1987. However, he is probably better known as the cover star of the first officially licensed WWF game, WWF Wrestlemania for NES in 1989.