The Rock says the Daily Star's 'generation snowflake' interview 'never happened'

Cast member Dwayne Johnson poses at the premiere for the movie “Rampage” in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Cast member Dwayne Johnson poses at the premiere for the movie “Rampage” in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson says an interview, published by the Daily Star, in which he calls out “generation snowflake” for being “too easily offended” was a complete fabrication by the U.K. tabloid.

The paper has since deleted the interview from its website.

Setting the record straight on with a heartfelt video on his Instagram page, The Rock said: “The interview never took place. It never happened. I never said any of those words. It’s completely untrue, one hundred percent. It’s fabricated.”

The Daily Star’s interview published on 11 January with the headline “EXCLUSIVE: The Rock slams snowflakes as ‘looking for reasons to be offended'” included the quote, attributed to an interview with the Fast & Furious star, where he is supposed to have said:

“People can be who they want, be with who they want, and live how they want. That can only be a good thing – but generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards.”

Now The Rock is laying the People’s Elbow onto the Star, part of the Reach media group (formerly Trinity Mirror), for putting words into his mouth that he would never have said.

“You know it’s not a real DJ [Dwayne Johnson] interview. If i’m ever insulting a group, or generation, or anyone… that’s not me, that’s not who I am, that’s not what we do. So, to Millennials: the interview never happened.”

(Daily Star)
(Daily Star)

“I always encourage empathy,” Johnson adds, “I encourage growth, but most importantly I encourage everybody to be exactly who they want to be.”

Yesterday, we cast doubt on the veracity of the interview, and reached out to Johnson’s publicists for comment.

Others also questioned the truth behind the interview, with one person tweeting that it reads like “a phony article”. Yahoo has reached out to the Daily Star for comment.

Former WWE superstar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is one of the most successful actors on the planet, and was named the highest paid actor in the world in 2016, when he earned £50 million ($64.5 million), thanks to roles in films like Central Intelligence, Fast and Furious 8, and Baywatch.

He’s known for being one of the most personable and approachable Hollywood stars, so these “generation snowflake” comments, which seems to be aimed at the “easily insulted” seemed to be very out of character.

And now we know why.

Dwayne Johnson can next be seen making a cameo in Fighting With My Family, a wrestling drama based on the life of WWE superstar Paige, directed by Stephen Merchant, which will debut at Sundance.


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