Happy New Year, Celebitches! I hope everyone enjoyed the various holidays and general merriment over the last month. I loved seeing the celebrations and decorations on Instagram so thank you to all who posted them, they were beautiful. Our buddy Dwayne Johnson posted a few Christmas themed pics to his Insta as well, all with his general message of positivity and spreading the love. Then he put his money where his mouth is and posted this video of his mother opening her Christmas gift from him, which turned out to be a new house. Good lord – that must have been one impressive tree to fit a whole house under it:
DJ is always generous, especially with his mother. And he’s explained before how tight things were growing up but that she made sure she was able to provide the necessities. This is lovely. I’ll bet it felt good to give it, too. And clearly Mama Rock can be trusted with the Real Estate Section because if I got a “Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket” for any house, anywhere, there’d be a castle with my name on it in the middle of Europe pronto. I hope he posts what she selects. Like, is she keeping the house he already bought her and just getting a pied-a-terre somewhere cosmopolitan? Or maybe a vacation getaway in some sunny locale? A ski cabin? (Yes, I’ve thought about what I’d choose – a lot).
One thing no one seems to have to worry about is how much this is going to set DJ back. It was recently reported that he picked up a $22M paycheck for The Jungle Cruise. Ah, Disney money. DJ’s co-star, Emily Blunt, is likely stunned at that number as well, considering she was only paid $9M to star in the same film. I understand there are box office numbers and track records to consider, possibly high-powered, better-negotiating agents as well but that percentage is gob-smacking. Considering Emily’s track record, less than half what he’s making? That’s outrageous. I hope Disney makes some kind of amends to Emily but I won’t hold my breath. That said, $9M would be a nice little down payment for my Castle Hecate.
Photo credit: Instagram and WENN Photos
Honestly, I think DJ is worth twice what Emily Blunt is in a movie. She doesn’t have the same kind of wide appeal, and while she’s lovely and her movies are good she rarely leads a movie and when she does they’re not ridiculous box office smashes like the Rock’s movies. Sometimes the pay disparity is reasonable. Like I’d expect Jennifer Lawrence or Charlize Theron to be paid more than Steve Carrel (I dunno why I thought of him, haha).
Edit: just realized I didn’t even mention the house! I like that he’s so generous with his family. He seems like a good person.
I agree with you.My husband adores Emily Blunt and I think she is very good in the movies I have seen her in but really DJ should be paid more just like Tom Cruise was paid more in The Edge of Tomorrow. People go to see DJ movies, even if there so so and he has proven he can bring the box office. Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron are a few actresses that can carry a movie and they get paid very well. Emily will get there someday, maybe Mary Poppins will help.
Also, love the gift of a house, maybe northern California, house in Napa or Carmel?
That pay gap is pretty awful, she’s been in some of the biggest films of the year and is tipped to be Oscar nominated. As much as a nice guy The Rock makes out he is I wonder if he kicked up about this – we need male allies for help in these matters.
That’s so incredibly sweet of him. I love seeing happy families that genuinely look out for each other – especially seeing moms who struggled to make ends meet get to live their later years very comfortably.
The pay disparity is pretty bad. I mean – I’d 100% pay him more than Emily, but not to THAT degree. It should be closer. That said – I know a lot of people who will go see a DJ film BECAUSE he’s in it, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say “Oh, Emily Blunt is in that? I’m definitely going”. She’s not a bad actress. I don’t personally like her, but she’s got a decent portfolio I guess. I just find her boring, and I don’t know if it’s that she reminds me of someone I don’t like or what – but I (unfairly) just don’t even like looking at her. It’s awful, and I know it’s awful. But there’s something about her that is just really off-putting to me, and I find most of her interviews super annoying. Despite that though, I can agree that she’s done some good work and that there shouldn’t be this kind of gap in pay.
Thank you, I’ve always found her very off-putting and I don’t know why. She just seems unfriendly or overrated somehow.
I read some of the comments about the Mary Poppins movie (didn’t watch it but I read the reviews) and someone mentioned she played Mary with a bitchy undertone. Dunno if that is true but maybe people are fixated on her role in the Devil Wears Prada.
She’s ok but she doesn’t make me want to watch her movies in a theatre (a free library rental sure).
I plannin printing this off and givibg a cooy to my sons.
It not just BO, social media and promotion plays a big part in it and Disney knows that they will get every dollar out of DJ when it is time for promotion.
Blunt does what she needs to and that is it and really does not come across as the most personable person.
Jeesh: I feel blessed because my three adult children each have health insurance that I don’t have to pay for anymore! Won the jackpot!! (Glad he is generous to his mamma.)
I know, right? I honestly toss and turn a lot wondering about my kids’ future financial security along with their happiness.
We cross our fingers! Good luck!
That’s my boo! Lololol. He seems like a really nice genuine person, doesn’t seem full of himself.
Emily doesn’t have the name recognition that The Rock has or the same track record. We know her but thats not the general population so the pay gap is understandable.
I’m glad that he’s setting a good example, especially for kids who look up to him, but I’m a little put off by the performative, ostentatious nature of his kind and generous gestures. I don’t know much about him, but to give him the benefit of the doubt, I like to think that he does even more wonderful things behind the scenes.
I was here to make this comment. I love the rock but why can’t be be a great guy and do it quietly when it’s private gestures like gifts to your parents? I understand about wanting to publicly be charitable to influence the public that looks up to you, but this is just off-putting.
I agree. I like DJ a lot and will see movies because he is in them, but it sort of feels like he is exploiting the gift to his mom. If it’s for charity, by all means — promote the hell out of any charitable gifts (if not for anything else, then to encourage others to follow your lead). But this gift was to his long-sacrificing mom. It seems like it should have been a private thing for which he sought no promotion/accolades, and, given his finances, something that probably should have been done a long time ago.
He did buy her a house years ago. It says so in the article.
Celebs now have to do social media as part of their face to the public. They all do it to varying degrees. I’m not bagging on him for being proud that he can do this for his mom.
While I support women’s pay equality, the film industry is different. Dwayne is a much bigger box office draw than Emily so his pay is warranted. He can headline and sell a movie on name recognition alone, her star power isn’t than big. $9 million is nothing to sneeze at.
At least this situation isn’t like the Michelle Williams/Mark Wahlberg debacle where she was paid like 1% of his salary.
Well done, DJ. Well done!
Happy New Year, Hecate!!!
He’s what my grandma would say “a good son.” Filial piety and all that. Cheers Rock!