The Rock calls his girlfriend his wife, but isn’t married: ‘Don’t rush big daddy’

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Real-life action figure Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his girlfriend, singer Lauren Hashian, are the parents to two daughters (pebbles?), 2-year-old Jasmine and 2-month-old Tiana. Dwayne also has another daughter, 16-year-old Simone, with ex wife Dany Garcia. Despite the fact that he has gushed over Lauren and her mothering abilities on numerous social media posts, he’s not quite ready to make her Mrs. Rock.

During the global press tour for his latest flick Skyscraper, a/k/a The Towering Inferno 2018 in Hong Kong, the 46-year-old actor told Entertainment Tonight that despite rumors, he and Lauren, who have dated since 2007, haven’t tied the knot and are not in a hurry to do so. He told ET, “I just refer to her as my wife all the time. So a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, did you get married?’ I’m like, ‘No. Easy. Don’t rush big daddy.'”

Back in April, while promoting Rampage (does this guy ever take a break?), Dwayne admitted that the idea of marriage was definitely not off the table, sharing, “We were going to get married in the spring and we got pregnant.” Explaining that Lauren didn’t want a maternity wedding gown, he added that “we’re just going to wait and not quite sure when, but I know it’s going to happen.” He went on to sing his girlfriend’s praises, saying, “The great thing with Lauren is she’s such a rock star. She’s just like, ‘It’s alright, whenever it’s going to happen we’re going to make it work.’”

I’m not a huge fan of action movies, but I’ve always liked Dwayne. He and Lauren have a lovely family and if they want to wed, I’m sure they will. Considering he’s now joking about setting up new hot couple Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, he may have begun a race to the altar with his former Jumanji co-star. As a two-time divorcee who isn’t adverse to putting the old adage “third time’s the charm“ to the test, I think Rock and Lauren will be happy regardless of their marital status.

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'Rampage' film premiere

LAFH Awards 2018

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58 Responses to “The Rock calls his girlfriend his wife, but isn’t married: ‘Don’t rush big daddy’”

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  1. Kitty says:

    I call my partner my husband, he calls me his wife. It sounds weird to say boyfriend or girlfriend after so many years. We may get married someday but it just doesn’t seem important right now

    • Snazzy says:

      yes we do the same, or else say partner. BF and GF just sounds stupid. For us though, there’s no point in getting married unless you put an emotional value on that piece of paper, which we don’t. We’re happy the way we are

    • Babs says:

      Why would you call yourselves husband and wife then? If it’s not important? Genuine question.

      • S says:

        I don’t actually care if anyone else is legally married or not (though I care deeply about everyone having that option), but this does seem a little odd to me, too. I mean, not in a bad way, necessarily, more just, ‘Why?’

        I know a couple who married, divorced after just a couple years, and then got back together and had three kids. It’s been 20+ years now since then, and they never remarried, though they call themselves husband and wife. (Very few people know they aren’t legally married.). It’s none of my beeswax how they live their lives, but there are a lot of legal issues that are going to arise without that “piece of paper,” which I think about as they both age.

        You don’t have to have a wedding to be married and, conversely, you don’t have to be married to have a wedding. I know couples on both sides of that spectrum; Big wedding, but never did the paperwork to make it legal or just headed to the courthouse one day and filled out the forms, then went on with their lives.

        If it works for you, great, but I guess I struggle to understand the hesitation of taking a legal step with someone you’ve been with for a decade-plus, share kids with, etc. Seems like the couple is the one “hung up on the technicality,” not society…In that, if you go around calling each other husband and wife, the world already thinks you’re married; they’re not judging or forcing you.

      • Kitty says:

        If I say boyfriend people ask why we haven’t been married yet, I’m sick of explaining, I call him my husband so people won’t ask questions. Simple as that.

      • Kitty says:

        The thing about marriage for me and my spouse is that we are pretty private people. I hate getting pictures taken, not much for social events. My family is huge, his is smaller but they would all be so disappointed if we didn’t invite everyone. The idea of it just makes me want to puke. We have talked about going to a courthouse with a few friends, but it’s hard to find the time. Husband works hard all week, and doesn’t take many holidays, when he does we tend to do lots of stuff with our garden and just relax.

      • kim says:

        have to agree. if it didnt mean anything you wouldn’t think gf and bf is stupid. I did paperwork with my husband after 15 years together only, because of legality reasons that would have us not allowed together. We travel 320 days a year and the legality of being married made it easier. We had a friend fill out the papers and we mailed it in.We have been committed since we were 21and got married at 36 and have never broken up or done those bs games. I still call him bf sometimes for fun…i truly never care about the labels, but it does sound like those 2 posts did. Neither one of us ever wanted to have children.

        You better believe I got the stereotypical bullshit of i would regret not having kids. Nope i don’t. I look good for my age probably cuz ihave no kids! lol I always told people never expect me to be a mom. i dont care about marriage or weddings. I was up front and non apologetic about my life decisions since i was 13.i could better respond to inquiries about kids and weddings borderline cocky because I was true to myself and the nosey judgy bittys could suck it!

        if u decide not to be married. be strong in your decision. Don’t feel like people are judging you because they view life differently.

    • Mrs. Wellen-Melon says:

      Marriage in the U.S. confers certain legal protections and benefits, such as the tax-free transfer of your deceased spouse’s part of the estate to you.

      If you trust and love someone enough to live as a family, it seems both silly and foolish to say “Don’t rush me.” It might feel like you’re keeping your options open but then why have the kids if you can’t fully commit?

      • HeySandy says:

        Marriages break up all the time, though, even with children involved. Being married does not mean your relationship is somehow stronger or more stable then if you want aren’t. The almost 50% divorce rate kind of points to that.

      • magnoliarose says:

        It kind of sounds silly to me too. Don’t rush me? I don’t care if people marry or don’t. Whatever. But don’t rush me is a silly thing to say. You have children together but the marriage seems like a rush? It makes no sense. Also, the big Daddy part makes me want to throw up.

      • Snazzy says:

        That’s in the US though. I live in Switzerland and if we get married our tax rate goes up, not down. It only goes down if you have kids. So honestly, no point. Much like Kitty, we’re fine the way we are. I just hate saying BF or GF because of all the dumb comments and looks. People judge and it’s exhausting.

      • Brian Brown says:

        I agree,.

    • elimaeby says:

      I’m in the same boat as you, Kitty. My partner and I are both in our thirties, share a home, have pets and finances together. Calling him my boyfriend sounds silly to me. I either use “partner” or “fiancee” when I talk about him, as he’s made it clear he does want to get married at some point when our finances are at a point where we can afford the ring, ceremony and party he wants.

      • Patty says:

        You can get married without a ring, party, and ceremony. I know that it is important to a lot of people but it’s a risk for those who truly want to be married. Not talking of anyone specifically in this thread but it seems lots of people are confusing being married with having a wedding. I blame the IWC which has managed to convince both men and women that marriages aren’t legit unless you spend xx amount on a ring and XX amount on a wedding.

    • Nicole (theCdnOne) says:

      We Canadians are fortunate in so many ways. In Canada after living together 3 years (1 if you have a child together), you have the same legal rights and privileges as if you had a ceremony. So, as I like to say, in Canada we respect oral as well as written contracts of marriage and the only reason to have a ceremony is if you want one and it has meaning to you. It never did to us. My husband and I have an oral contract of marriage – 25 years and counting. So he’s my husband, because the only legal difference between our union and someone who had a ceremony is a piece of paper that is registered with the government.

      • caribcanadian says:

        Please note that your comments re Canada do not apply to all of the country. In the province of Quebec there is no such thing as common law marriage with or without a child no matter the number of years living in co=habitation. Therefore, as a partner in such a relationship in Quebec you will not benefit from any of the same privileges of a married person. In Quebec, may be true in other provinces, there IS a legal difference between marriage and co-habitation.

    • Happy21 says:

      I’m in the exact same boat. We’ve been together coming on 24 years but never bothered with marriage but we call each other husband and wife (for the most part). Legally, in Canada, he is my husband. We have all the same rights as a married couple have to each other without the paperwork or the need to actually file for divorce should we ever split.

    • Eliza says:

      But you sound happy and equal in your decision. No one should make you feel less than.

      “Don’t rush big daddy” makes it sound like she wants marriage and he’s holding out. Not an equal decision between partners.

    • lobbit says:

      I think this is one reason why “partner” works well. For adults of a certain age, the boyfriend/girlfriend label is always treated as a precursor to “husband/wife” but “partner” has a weight to it–it’s finite.

    • Lonnietinks says:

      Nope. Being married is different than just living together. If you want to refer to your partner as your husband then you get married, it’s not just about a piece of paper, it’s about a legal commitment that intertwines your lives.

  2. girl_ninja says:

    Many years and two babies in, get those rings on and say those vows.

    • Sash says:

      Just curious, why? Marriage won’t make him any more or less committed.

      • Mrs. Wellen-Melon says:

        The Rock holds all the economic and social power in this couple. It would be nicer if he wasn’t calling all the shots here.

      • Babs says:

        It will make him accountable which will be a nice change from the overkill SM gushing that doesn’t cost a thing.

      • magnoliarose says:

        I have to agree with the above. For her, it would be a financial protection. She is economically dependent on him so in this case, a ring certainly does count.

      • Sash says:

        Okay, understood. Definitely get the financial protection part of it. As much as i think marriage is an archaic thing, that absolutely makes sense.

        I do wonder her thoughts on it all. He’s always “me, me, me,” what does she feel about it?

    • girl_ninja says:

      For the record, I feel the same way about ANY couple that live together and have children. It just makes sense to me. What if something happens to your partner or to you? How is the family that you created protected? It can’t just be in a Will.

  3. Babs says:

    He is way too try hard-y for my taste. And what’s with the rush on babies but shyness about marriage? You can keep that, Rocky.

  4. Jane says:

    I am super weird but for me I wouldn’t need a Wedding if I found someone to spend my life with.

    I want to be married so I just never get the excuse that we need a big ceremony to start a marriage.

    I’ve know a couple people who eloped then had a party afterward

  5. Kitty says:

    That’s just so weird. Put the ring on it. You have two kids with her.

  6. Jenba says:

    I’ve been with my partner 10 years now (& I’m a weirdo who has only been with one person- him). We have an almost 3 year old daughter with another baby on the way due in October. Many people ask why we haven’t walked down the aisle yet & the answer is simple: we we’re waiting to have enough finances. Then when we did my Dad (who of course was gonna walk me down the aisle) died unexpectedly. Due to my broken heart and stubbornness I no longer have that urge to take the legal plunge. Seems pointless after 10 years, ya know? I also am attached to my maiden name & wouldn’t change it regardless of marital status. Some days it bothers me that I’m still a “girlfriend”, other days I pride myself on not conforming to what society expects of a healthy & committed relationship. Sorry for the novel- basically what I’m trying to say is people have their reasons for not getting married, doesn’t mean both people aren’t in it for the long run *Shrug*

    • magnoliarose says:

      But your reasons make sense. The Rock is a wealthy man and without the protection of marriage, she is only entitled to child support if he decides to leave. He will also have funds for a better attorney.
      It makes NO sense for a woman not to marry a wealthy man that she has children with unless she has equal means. It for her own protection.
      Chances are their lives revolve around his life and schedule so what would happen if say in 10 years he decides to leave her for a younger woman and start a new family. What career options does she have then? She’s an unsuccessful singer. She has no skills to make millions on her own. Her lifestyle will be diminished forever and even worse once her kids leave unless he is the kind to get custody or be a jerk and make sure she gets very little.
      Marriage is a business deal. As unromantic as that sounds it is.
      Don’t rush me sounds a lot different to my ears.

  7. Beth says:

    I’m 40, have been with my bf for 2 years (which isn’t my longest relationship), have never been married before, and I’m in no hurry to get the rings and papers. It irks me just as bad when people say I should be married by this age as when they say I should want to be a mother.

  8. smcollins says:

    Don’t *rush* “big daddy”? He was probably joking but, dude, it’s been 11 years & 2 kids. That’s the opposite of rushing. Best of luck to them either way.

    • Slowsnow says:

      I hate the expression “big daddy” with a passion. I can’t get past that in the article. Ughh.

      • smcollins says:

        Me, too. It’s so creepy (I don’t want to think of my SO as my “daddy.” Great big EWWW), not to mention demeaning. I still like him, though. He seems like a good-hearted person despite throwing out that moniker.

      • magnoliarose says:

        ME TOO! Ugh.

  9. Sash says:

    That’s not really unusual. Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have been together nearly a decade, not married, and he apparently refers to her as his wife privately. Kurt Russell also refers to Goldie Hawn as his wife and they’re famously unmarried.

    It’s just a term and it’s about your actual commitment, some couples just don’t care about the paper or ceremony.

  10. Slowsnow says:

    I have been with my now husband for 23 years and we got hitched 4 years ago with our 4 kids in attendance. It was a way to celebrate our relationship knowing that where we live gay people are finally allowed to make that decision too. But beside that, we didn’t want to get married before nor choose a particular place to live in (we lived in 3 different countries and 4 different places).
    One day we acknowledged the fact that as immigrants we were each other’s roots and we had to be legally linked. It was a way to figure out our life and to recognise the fact that we trusted each other completely and fully. Because you have kids with someone, it doesn’t mean that you are ready to put your own life in the other person’s hands completely right away. I know that my husband is a good father but it did not mean that I was “his” legally. Call me crazy but there is your family and then there is you, two separate things in a monogamous relationship.

  11. MaryContrary says:

    Having kids with someone is a bigger commitment than a piece of paper that says you’re legally joined. My MIL and her boyfriend call each other husband/wife because it’s easier. But they’re not married because of finances/taxes.

  12. HK9 says:

    I respect what people want to do. If it’s working for you fine. But ladies, know this now, you’ve got to look after yourself financially no matter what your status is because once things go left it’s hard enough for a legal wife to get what she’s due much less someone who wasn’t legally married. The legal costs to separate and begin life on you own are way more than you can imagine and your ex will be using their resources to start their new relationship. Always.have.your.own.money. He’s not going to take care of you when it’s over.

    Another thing that sticks in my craw. It has been my experience that a man who says he’s not interested in marriage, just doesn’t want to marry you. Example-George Clooney. Draw your own conclusions.

    • S says:

      This. It doesn’t have to be a women, but it almost always is a woman, who suffers in the scenario of ending a long term relationship where they were the primary child care provider with a vast income disparity, usually having made joint life choices to support and increase their partner’s net worth, only to find he feels they have no right to any of it. I’m 41, so I’ve seen way too many “nice guy” husbands turn into selfish a-holes when it comes to dealing with their soon-to-be ex-wives. In this particular scenario Lauren is at least somewhat protected by the Rock’s rep and desire to maintain the nice guy image which is a huge part of his appeal, something that would take a big hit if he was a jerk to the mother of his kids. But, without that legal document, she’s mostly counting on his goodwill if anything should go wrong which is … not great.

      I’m of the “if it’s no big deal” mindset, than just go ahead and do the paperwork. If you’re both happy, nothing has to change, at all, and if the worst happens (divorce, death) you’re legally covered.

      Also, while I tend to think the whole “don’t rush Big Daddy” comment was a total joke…There is truth in kidding, and anyone who thinks they’re being “rushed” into marriage after two kids and ten years. Well, yeah.

      • AMA1977 says:

        Agree, agree and agree. The “it’s just a piece of paper” argument doesn’t hold water with me for the reasons you state. If it’s not a big deal, why not get all of the rights and protections that it affords you, especially if you have children?

        A wise person I know once said, “never be a stay-at-home mom to a boyfriend” and it’s good advice even if the “boyfriend” is a mega-movie star. The fact is that it’s never a good idea for one person in a relationship to hold all of the financial cards.

        Having that “piece of paper” protects the lower-earning spouse in the event that things go off the rails, and it also grants rights of inheritance, next-of-kin, and decision-making capabilities if one spouse is incapacitated for any reason. It’s a big deal, and that’s why same-sex couples fought so hard for the right to marry.

  13. minx says:

    “Don’t rush big daddy?” Puh-leeze.

  14. Sofia says:

    “Don’t rush me” = “I’m waiting to see how much money my next movie makes before my lawyers write the prenup.”

  15. lucy2 says:

    I’m ok with people choosing to not marry, if both are in agreement. But to say “don’t rush me” as the defense, when they have a decade and 2 children together…that’s a little off.

  16. Patty says:

    People can do whatever they want but this “it’s just a piece of paper” nonsense needs to stop. You never hear anyone say that about their paycheck or their mortgage, lol. Or anything else, want to go outside the country? I’ve never heard anyone say I’m going to Paris but I’m not getting a passport because it’s just a piece of paper. Let’s see what happens if you try to cash a check and that bank says no can do cause it’s just a piece of paper.

    Truth is when you are legally married, that price of paper provides all kinds of legal protections and benefits that you don’t get just being together. And quite frankly it’s usually women who get screwed when things don’t work out. There’s a reason why gay Americans fought so hard to have their unions recognized as marriages. It’s more than just a piece of paper.

  17. Mrs. Peel says:

    He calls himself “big daddy”? Pass me a barf bag.

  18. tealily says:

    She looks like Giada De Laurentiis.

  19. Dog Mama says:

    Big daddy. yum. love the Rock!