Renowned Hollywood figure and ex-WWE icon, Dwayne Johnson, popularly termed ‘The Rock’, recently commented on the pressing matter of cancel culture and disclosed his decision on not supporting President Biden in the next election period. In an exclusive conversation with ‘Fox & Friends’, he expressed his unease with the prevailing attitude among society that places undue importance on not upsetting any quarters. For Johnson, the emphasis should be on authenticity rather than being driven by fear of being ‘canceled’. He passionately stated, ‘What’s crucial for me is to remain genuine, candid, transparent…and, above all, truthful’.
Johnson voiced his irritation towards the contemporary cancel and woke culture narratives which seem more committed to division than unity. According to him, the issue doesn’t lie with different cultures but with the unnecessary animosity between them. He conveyed his frustration with how these existing narratives force people to be someone they’re not, solely to avoid being ‘canceled’. His current beliefs override this fear of cancellation – he’s more focused on being sincere, even if it means invoking certain negative responses.
‘The choice is either you conform to what others wish for you or you stand your ground and proclaim ‘I am who I am, and I’ll stay true to myself’, declared Johnson. He believes in transparency, regardless of how uncomfortable the reality may be, placing more value on presenting unaltered views than keeping everyone content. He clearly stated that he’s okay with brewing discontent, as long as it stems from speaking the truth. However, he also confessed that comprehending and practicing this belief took significant time.
Despite his return to independence in recent times, Johnson’s political history isn’t devoid of endorsements. In fact, the 2020 Presidential Election marked his first endorsement for a political contender, notably President Biden. When ‘Fox & Friends’ host, Will Cain, asked Johnson if he was satisfied with his decision, the popular actor shared mixed feelings.
Addressing the question on whether he’s content with the state of America, the Hollywood star replied with a resounding ‘no’. But despite the disappointment, he remains hopeful about the future, ‘I am an eternal optimist, and I firmly believe that our nation will move in the right direction’, Johnson optimistically professed. His previous endorsement for Biden was borne from a conviction that it was the most suitable decision at the time.
However, upon reflecting on the political intricacies which he had navigated, Johnson admitted that he regretted the partisan divide his political stance fostered. Going forward, he stated that he would refrain from endorsing any candidate in public to avoid fueling any divisions. ‘Will I repeat the act of endorsing this year? The answer is no. I won’t’, he firmly declared to Cain.
Johnson expressed deep regret for the discord his actions stirred, both then and now. He expressed sorrow upon realizing the profound divisiveness his political endorsement had triggered across the nation. Considering this fallout, Johnson pledged to abstain from repeating such an act in the forthcoming elections. ‘I refuse to contribute to our country’s division – it goes against my very fiber’, he stated.
His concluding thoughts on the matter were clear, ‘In the past months, I’ve come to the tough realization that my actions only served to sow division in our country. I now understand, going into the next election, that I should avoid this. I won’t do this again as my ultimate goal is unifying our nation. That’s the belief embedded deep within me’. The star added that although he’s not fearful of any backlash, he comprehends the extent of his influence and thus, intends to keep his political beliefs to himself.
Johnson clarified that notwithstanding his decision to withhold his political preferences, he has no fear, ‘I’m not afraid at all, I just understand the impact of my influence. Henceforth, my political ideas will remain personal and confined to the ballot box’. He pledged to fully support the choice of the American populace irrespective of his own personal convictions. This shows his strong belief in the democracy and the American people.
Irrespective of the multitude of requests for Johnson to throw down the gauntlet against President Biden in the 2024 elections, he has expressed no current intentions of seeking higher political office. He doesn’t see himself in the political arena just yet, disregarding rumors of any political aspirations. ‘As it stands, I have no political ambitions. I am not a politician. In fact, I’m quite detached from politics’, he insists.
But that doesn’t imply that Johnson is apathetic about his country. On the contrary, he deeply cares about it. He explains, ‘I deeply love and care about our nation. Begin a patriot does not necessitate being a politician. You’re one as well, Will. My current focus is my dear family and undertaking my day-to-day responsibilities like dropping my children off to school. That’s my priority’, he emphasized.
Johnson further elaborated that he doesn’t think running for a political position would effectively fulfill his ultimate goal — unifying the nation. ‘In the pursuit of unity, trying to get everyone in sync, I’m unsure if further political involvement is the right step at this juncture. Maybe, I can’t say for certain’, he stated.
