Actor Wil Wheaton has publicly criticized Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, labeling him a "coward" for his decision to remain apolitical. Johnson recently stated in an interview that he intends "to keep my politics to myself," citing a desire to avoid the divisiveness that he feels political engagement can create.
Wheaton, who has been vocal about his own political endorsements in the past, including supporting Kamala Harris in 2024, Joe Biden in 2020, and Bernie Sanders in 2016, expressed his disappointment. In a now-deleted social media post responding to actor George Takei, Wheaton wrote, "So disappointing to find out he is such a coward."
Johnson, however, has previously expressed a nuanced view on political engagement. In a 2024 interview on The Will Cain Show, he reflected on his 2020 endorsement of Biden, stating that it caused him significant distress due to the division it fostered. "The takeaway after that, months and months and months, I started to realize, like, 'Oh man, that caused an incredible amount of division in our country,'" Johnson said.
He has also suggested that political discourse could benefit from dialogue, even with figures with whom he has political differences. When questioned about why he did not condemn former President Donald Trump, Johnson suggested, "Then why don't they talk? They should sit down and talk. I don't know where that goes, but I do know that's an important step." In 2020, Johnson also made a phone call to Trump, calling him "brave" following an assassination attempt at a campaign rally.
Johnson is currently promoting his role in the upcoming live-action remake of "Moana," set to release on July 10. Wheaton is slated to appear in "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe," a spin-off of "The Big Bang Theory," premiering on July 23 on HBO Max.