Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Faces Backlash After Saying He’ll Keep His Politics Private

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Faces Backlash After Saying He’ll Keep His Politics Private

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is standing by his decision to keep his political views out of the public eye, but not everyone is on board.

The actor and entrepreneur is facing criticism after a new Esquire profile revisited his stance on politics, which first shifted after he publicly endorsed former President Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election. Johnson previously said he regretted making the endorsement because it created division among his fan base and has since vowed to keep his political beliefs private.

In the interview, Johnson explained that his focus has changed over the years.

“What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep—need, not want—the main thing. And the main thing for me, the thing that in the morning I swing my legs out of bed and I run towards, is creating. It’s art. It’s storytelling.”

He added:

“I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself. There are moments when, hey, there’s nothing we can’t talk about. If I’m wrong, I’ll tell you I’m wrong. Or if I feel like I got a leg up and this is the right way to go, I’ll share it with you. Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever. I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bullsh*t that comes with it.”

The comments quickly sparked debate online. According to Variety, actor George Takei criticized Johnson’s stance, writing that “silence is complicity,” while actor Wil Wheaton called the move “so disappointing” and referred to Johnson as “such a coward.”

Johnson has not publicly responded to the criticism. However, his latest comments make it clear that, for now, he plans to keep his attention on filmmaking and storytelling rather than political discourse.