Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is crumbling

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is the epitome of Hollywood masculinity. His on-screen magnetism and talk show couch affability have endeared him to millions. Now though, the Rock seems to be crumbling. 

The Rock, who has referred to himself as ‘the hardest worker in the room’, has developed a reputation in the industry for his lateness and lack of professionalism on set. In April, the Hollywood trade publication The Wrap published a exposé, one that cast The Rock in the most unflattering of lights. According to the piece, The Rock used to pee in a bottle during movie shoots, rather than use the restroom – you know, like a respectable, housetrained human being. There were also allegations that on one production, he added $50 million to the bill by failing to appear on set. One insider told the publication: ‘The only thing Dwayne was consistent at was being chronically late’. (Although, it should be said, that other sources in the piece said that he was no more than an hour late.)

A few weeks before The Wrap expose was published, The Rock was three hours late arriving ahead of his main event match at WrestleMania 40. For WWE World, a WWE fan event in Philadelphia leading up to WrestleMania 40, Johnson showed up two hours late, drawing boos from the crowd and criticism from the local Philadelphia press. The Guardian’s Marina Hyde said in a recent edition of her podcast The Rest is Entertainment that she’d spoken to those who’d worked with Johnson who said, in no uncertain terms, that he’s ‘a diva’. 

To compound matters, Matt Belloni, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, has accused Johnson of manipulating box office statistics and feeding false narratives to the media in an attempt to bolster his films’ reception. Last month, reports surfaced detailing a purported clash between The Rock and Ryan Reynolds, arguably the most affable actor in Hollywood, on the set of the Netflix’s Red Notice. Sources suggest that tensions ran high as the two Hollywood heavyweights allegedly engaged in an on-set altercation, raising concerns about their ability to collaborate effectively.

Johnson’s behaviour is becoming strange in more mundane ways. Last December, The Rock proudly declared that he was having his ‘first ever’ In-N-Out burger experience on Instagram (for the uninitiated, In-N-Out is a shrine to the glory days of fast food, before the craze for truffle oil and brioche buns). Yet he has been spotted at In-N-Outs on at least two occasions. In February 2017, Johnson posted about inaugural visit, only to revisit the topic in August 2022, touting another ‘first time’ encounter while also introducing his own tequila brand into the mix. The Rock has also spun a tall tale about his height. The bald behemoth has, for years, steadfastly maintained that he stands at an imposing 6 feet 5 inches. Yet, fans have pointed out that the reality fails to measure up to the myth. By comparing photos of him standing next to other celebrities, it appears The Rock is actually 6 feet 3 inches. Why would such a successful man feel the need to lie about such innocuous things? 

Meanwhile, his social media is a relentless barrage of motivational slogans, hashtags, sunshine, and manufactured cheerfulness. It’s all designed to uplift, but often feels more like a performance than a genuine reflection of his inner state. The Rock doesn’t just go about his day. No, he ‘wins’ it. He ‘wins’ every single day, no exceptions. He doesn’t just workout. No, he ‘kills it’. Every. Single. Day. Some Rock-isms include: ‘It’s simple. Do it’ and ‘When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say, “Why me?” Just say, “Try me.”’ Inspirational, I know.

Johnson first forged his identity in the testosterone-fuelled world of professional wrestling, where his character captivated audiences and earned him legions of fans. In blockbuster films, he often plays characters who mirror his wrestling alter ego – men of action, moral righteousness, and almost superhuman strength. Whether he’s saving the world from imminent doom or dispatching bad guys with a single punch, The Rock’s characters are really just an extension of this persona. But The Rock was never real. He was a construct, a figment of the WWE’s imagination, designed to entertain and inspire. When Hollywood came calling, Dwayne Johnson faded into the background, and The Rock – this meticulously crafted fabrication – took centre stage. In many ways, The Rock epitomises Hollywood itself – a land of make-believe. Marlon Brando famously said that the vast majority of ‘successful people in Hollywood are failures as human beings’. One wonders what the great man would have made of The Rock.