I am a sucker for feel good stories. On Monday, I fawned over Arnold Schwarzenegger donating 25 tiny homes for homeless veterans in Los Angeles. Besides consistently bathing and breaking box office records, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also does beautiful things for people. Last month Dwayne gave away his personal pickup truck to a veteran whose story inspired him. Over the weekend, Dwayne posted a video and several pictures surprising his mother with a brand new Cadillac for Christmas. He enlisted his daughters Jasmine, 6, and Tiana, 3, and their dog, Hobbs, in helping unveil the gift. Below are a few more details from People:
He shared the adorable moment and the emotional aftermath via Instagram on Saturday. The first slide includes a clip of Dwayne covering his mom’s eyes as his children count down from three before screaming, “Merry Christmas!”
As she opens her eyes, Ata spots the new vehicle with a big red bow sitting in the driveway. She pauses briefly while taking in the moment before putting her hand over her mouth in disbelief.
“This one felt good,” Dwayne posted. “Surprised my mom with a new car for Christmas today. She was shocked. She got a few ugly cries in.”
“I’m so grateful I can do this kinda stuff for my mom, who’s had one helluva life,” he continued in the caption. “I don’t take any of it for granted. Neither does she.”
He added, “Merry Christmas ma, enjoy your new ride!!! 😊🙌🏾 And your Elvis records 🎶🕺🏽 We love you. You deserve a lot more 🙏🏾.”
The smile on Mama Johnson’s face was all the joy I need for the rest of the week. Mama is definitely going to be riding in style. It is so sweet that Dwayne wanted to do something special for his mother and the fact that he wrote in the post that she deserves so much more gave me the warm fuzzies. It was also cute how he got his two little girls to help. I lost it when I saw their French bulldog coming to the car as if to say “Isn’t it nice?” Mama Ata will definitely be getting stares of admiration when she cruises through her neighborhood. Dwayne has such a cute family and it is so lovely that he is close to his mother. I am sure losing his father last year, despite their complicated relationship, is one of the reasons why Dwayne wants to honor his mother as often as he can. In the meantime, I will continue to stroll these internet streets for more feel good stories about celebrities.
photos via Instagram and credit Instar
Love how Hobbs wanted to be part of the celebration by bringing his rubber toy into the car.
I’m so thankful for dogs!
Ohhh so they’re the market those “surprise car for christmas” ads are directed toward! 🤣
That was really sweet of The Rock & his wife. Cheers to all of them 🥰
Haha! I’m always thinking that – I would not be so happy if Mr R decided to spend 10s of thousands on a new vehicle without some discussion! And vice versa.
Rock stories always make me happy <3
I just want the bow. It doesn’t even have to be a new vehicle. But I only drive one kind so I’m easy. But the bow alone is like $400.
I’m more impressed by his giving his truck to a veteran than a Cadillac to his mother…
Just saying..
I know. That video of him giving that veteran his personal truck was extremely touching!!!
I would think that The Rock has given his Mum a car before, no shade on him as I adore him.
That was a movie set expense too, not really even his.
This is a very nice gesture. I’m sure he’s taken good care of his mother over the years, and that is lovely. Most people do help out parents if they can and the parents need the help (in money or care). But let’s face it: the man is worth HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars. He could “gift” his mother with cars and houses any day of the week. Rubs me the wrong way for him to get this put out for publicity purposes (“Aren’t I wonderful??? Look what I’M doing for my mom!”)
I used to like the guy, but since he’s put his push out with “presidential ambitions”, I am just *so* turned off. We do NOT NEED more actors and crisis actors (paid by dark money) w/out ANY EXPERIENCE running for president. He’s so keen on politics? Run on a local level and learn how things work! Take some graduate level course in LAW, Soc. Sciences, civics, economics…educate yourself FIRST!
This!
I totally agree!
I love Dwayne. Huge fan. But I can’t help but agree. A big part of his “brand” is being the nice family guy who helps his mom and is a girl dad. It’s all true. He’s not lying. Showing it off all the time makes it feel disingenuous.
Yup. I agree.
Yeah, he’s been co-staring in multi-million dollar action movies for almost a decade. Has she been rolling around in an old Mazda all this time? Bouncing between leases, trying to keep under the required mileage? I’m guessing (hoping) no.
These stories really work best when it’s the newly professional athlete or young star who’s spending their first real dollars to give back to their parents. If this is the first nice gift he’s purchased his mom since he’s been rich enough to afford it, he’s either lying or really cheap.
He seems genuinely nice, and I’m not trying to knock him, but yeah, wouldn’t he have given his mother a fancy car already? Odd.
I agree. My first thought was ‘he’s just now getting his mom a car?’ Maybe they’ve had an estranged relationship? At his net worth, my mom would have been irritated at the sheer amount of stuff I would have given her by now. Lol.
I’m absolutely sure he’s done vids of gifting mom a new car previously. But yeah, rubs me the wrong way too. He’s got multiple businesses – tequila, energy drink, clothing line to start, movie money, producer money and he’s starting a football league. He’ll be a billionaire in no time flat. I do think he’s a good generous guy but this felt really weird. Of course mom deserves a new car? The cost to the Rock is the equivalent of lunch money for the week.
He is worth 400 million, this is like somebody worth $400k giving their mom 50 bucks and video taping it to put online looking for praise.
This is sweet. He doesn’t seem to take his now privileged life for granted.
Oya, I’m so glad you’ll be trawling for great stories. We need more of these! Thank you!!
Cute, but here’s hoping she was driving a reliable car already? I’m so confused by this…
It’s very sweet, I’m guessing she’s like a lot of is like a lot of us who drive our old cars until they die. I get my money’s worth, so yes he’s had money for a while and the first thing he did was get his mom a house. He seems like a really good guy
I didn’t know that. But I still find a knot in my throat when he’s been a star for so long and he is now getting her a car.
I didn’t peg the Rock as a frenchie owner. I would have guessed a bigger manlier dog. Maybe he let the kids pick. Frenchies are train wrecks though. My husband’s employee has 2 and she on first name basis with the emergency vet and when she pulls up they ask which one it is this time. She knew that they’re a mess so she tried a different blood line with the second one. I’d respect him a little more if he had a rescue.
I can’t be the only one who thinks his cheekbones in the gym picture are really, really large….like bad plastic surgery level. I’m sure that’s not it, but what a bizarre angle?
@Sunnydaze I think he is on a strict diet for the Black Atom movie (DC comic). He is trying to get MORE shredded and is losing weight too. The weight loss is really showing up in his face so much that I did not recognise him in the photo at first. I hope he stops because he is losing his mojo here. Rock you are big enough. Stop already. Just my opinion though.
This just seems like lame and sappy PR. Used to like him but he’s turned into a douche over the years. I have no respect for actors who try to become “president” just because they feel like it.
This gesture would be so much better if we didn’t have to hear about it.
Same, I liked him well enough but the president thing turned me off. And I like generous people who don’t have to broadcast their generosity.