On Friday, a weird interview was published in the British outlets. It seemed to originate in Britain’s Daily Star, then it got picked up by the Daily Mail, then it got picked up everywhere. The interview was allegedly with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and he reportedly said all kinds of sh-t about Millennials, like this:
“I don’t have to agree with what somebody thinks, who they vote for, what they voted for, what they think, but I will back their right to say or believe it. That’s democracy.” The actor then allegedly took aim at “generation snowflake,” adding “So many good people fought for freedom and equality — but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended … generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards.”
While I could believe that someone like The Rock would conceivably say these things – he seems like the kind of guy who would say something about a “generation of snowflakes” – it also seemed out-of-character for The Rock considering he’s all about being presidential material these days. In interviews from the past few years, he honestly sounds like a political candidate. Which is why The Rock quickly came out on Friday to deny ever giving the interview:
“The interview never took place, never happened, never said any of those words, completely untrue, 100% fabricated. I was quite baffled when I woke up this morning… I’ve gained such a great trust and equity with all you guys, all around the world over the years, and you know it’s not a really D.J. interview if I’m ever insulting a group, a generation or anyone, because that’s not me and it’s not who I am and not what we do. So, to the millennials, the interview never happened. I always encourage empathy, I encourage growth, but most importantly I encourage everybody to be exactly who they want to be.”
[From Vanity Fair & People]
I’m including his Instagram denial below. I believe his denial, and I believe that the Daily Star just completely made up those quotes. But it’s such a strange story, right? Usually, newspapers and gossip magazines are much more careful about attribution – even Star or the National Enquirer wouldn’t have run those quotes attributed to Johnson directly, they would have said “an eyewitness claims that Dwayne Johnson insulted Millennials.”
In today's @Daily_Star
– EXCLUSIVE: The Rock smacks down #snowflakes in PC rant
– The weather girl with hots for Amazon billionaire
– #Corrie Sean: My porn agony #frontpages #exclusive #WWE pic.twitter.com/xdgpLSVUEG
— Daily Star (@Daily_Star) January 11, 2019
Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.
Seems like he could sue someone for libel.
I always liked the Rock and I’m somehow relived he didn’t say those things.
Is this another Drew Berrymore HFPA Egypt Air situation?
Algernon, what does this mean? I don’t understand
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/10/drew-barrymore-interview-egypt-air-hfpa
Sorry, it’s when some HFPA member made up an incoherent interview with Drew Berrymore. Wendy linked it.
Thank God, i would have been very disappointed in my imaginary husband 😁
Yeah doesn’t seem like something he would say. I don’t think it is the “snowflake generation” it’s really the “internet generation” which is ALL of us. The internet has given people the opportunity to do good things but also bad things. It’s easy to rant and hate when you’re anonymous. The internet sometimes makes bigger issues out of things and if you don’t feel “offended” by something it’s like you’re guilt tripped into feeling it. I don’t know.
Lol… from what I see, it’s old, white Trumpster folks with the biggest butthurt about things. They’re the ones getting offended by nothingburgers like Starbucks cups and Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas. They’re the ones offended by anything that teaches about non-WASP culture.
Sure, young people occassionally go to far in the PC policing, but at least they’re trying to consider other people’s feelings. Older folks are the ones wishing for the good old days when they didn’t have to care about other folks’ feelings.
What a weird rebuttal statement…
What are #plurals? ( from his insta)