Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is taking heat from two well-known Hollywood figures after saying he intends to keep his politics private.
George Takei and Wil Wheaton both went after Johnson on Threads, with Takei calling his silence “complicity” and Wheaton branding him “a coward.”
The backlash followed Johnson’s 2026 Esquire cover story, in which he explained that he has learned to keep his political views to himself and stay focused on his work in entertainment.
Takei, the Star Trek icon, responded to Johnson’s stance with a blunt three-word post: “Silence is complicity.”
Wheaton then replied to Takei and pushed it further, writing, “So disappointing to find out he is such a coward.”
What The Rock Told Esquire
Johnson made clear in the interview that his priority is his craft, not political fights. He framed creating and storytelling as the thing he runs toward every morning.
What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep, need, not want, the main thing the main thing,” Johnson told Esquire.
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. I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself.
He did not say difficult topics should be avoided entirely. Johnson said he remains open to hard conversations and can admit when he is wrong, but wants no part of the constant political slinging.
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 bullshit that comes with it,” he said.
Johnson also referenced Bruce Springsteen criticizing Donald Trump, saying his instinct was not to pick a side but to wonder why the two do not simply talk.
Why don’t they talk? They should sit down and talk,” he said. “I don’t know where that goes, but I do know that’s an important step.
Johnson has largely stepped away from the ring in recent years to focus on his film career. He was recently tapped to play a former UFC fighter in a new film and is set to be honored by Disney with a Legends award.
Johnson may be trying to avoid the political fire, but with Takei and Wheaton calling him out by name, the debate has come looking for him anyway.