He conquered wrestling and, later, Hollywood, but one of the biggest stars in the galaxy got pinned by a barely-there President.
Dwayne Johnson's rise to fame has been nothing short of remarkable, but he still stumbled when he tried to add "political powerbroker" to his resume.
During the 2020 presidential campaign, the erstwhile "Rock" endorsed Joe Biden for the White House.
As a political independent & centrist, I’ve voted for both parties in the past. In this critical presidential election, I’m endorsing @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris.
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2020
Progress takes courage, humanity, empathy, strength, KINDNESS & RESPECT.
We must ALL VOTE: https://t.co/rZi1mxh8DC pic.twitter.com/auLbc8xDBv
He was hardly alone in La La Land in selecting the Biden/Harris ticket. Once again, Hollywood rallied to the Democrats' side in an election cycle. Up until then, Johnson had avoided the political scrum. That made him part of an increasingly rare breed - the apolitical movie star.
He left that in the dust.
A few years later, Johnson shared why he regretted that decision. He told Fox News, of all outlets, why he won't be weighing in on the 2024 race.
Am I happy with the state of America now? Well, that answer is no. Do I believe we're going to get better? I believe in that. I'm an optimistic guy and I believe we can get better ... The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was what I thought was the best decision for me at that time. ... Will I be doing that again this year? That answer is no.
The comments came after nearly four years of President Biden bumbling across the White House, spreading gaffes far and wide. Perhaps that weighed on his decision, knowing he helped add "cheap fakes" to the modern political dictionary. You couldn't blame the big guy. Or, after failing to ignite the box office with "Baywatch" and "Black Adam," Johnson knew his endorsements could chase away half the country.
And his once super career was starting to look ... human.
Either way, he's more than happy to stay out of politics in perpetuity. He opened up about that decision and where he sees himself in the future, via a new interview with the liberal Esquire magazine.
I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself. There are moments when, hey, there’s nothing we can’t talk about. If I’m wrong, I’ll tell you I’m wrong. Or if I feel like I got a leg up and this is the right way to go, I’ll share it with you. Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever. I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bulls*** that comes with it.”
That's actually the most relatable thing he's said in ages.
Johnson isn't the only actor taking this path. In recent months, we've seen several stars embrace a similar position, including Kevin James, Neil Patrick Harris, and Michelle Yeoh. Many stars are starting to realize how unpredictable fame can be in the digital age, and alienating parts of their audience isn't the smartest business move.
When the biggest movie in Hollywood is an indie horror film with an unknown cast, it's best to prepare for the worst.
Other stars, like Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo, work incessantly and feel no need to quiet their hard-Left political speeches.
