Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has addressed recent rumors about his behavior on set, specifically during the filming of his upcoming Christmas movie, Red One.
In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Johnson responded to claims that he was frequently late to filming and engaged in unusual behavior to save time.
Earlier this year, The Wrap published a report suggesting that Johnson’s tardiness on set was causing delays and driving up the budget of Red One to a massive $250 million. The report alleged that the actor was sometimes as much as eight hours late, leading to scheduling issues.
Johnson acknowledged in the interview that he has indeed been late to set occasionally but denied the extent described in the report. “Yeah, that happens,” he admitted. “But not that amount, by the way. That was a bananas amount. That’s crazy. Ridiculous.”
In addition to the tardiness claims, The Wrap mentioned that Johnson had a habit of peeing in water bottles instead of taking bathroom breaks in order to save time. Johnson confirmed this to GQ, saying, “Yeah. That happens. I’ve said a thousand times: ‘Hey, I’m here. Come and ask me. And I’ll tell you the truth.’”
However, despite admitting to some of these habits, Johnson dismissed the overall controversy stirred by the report as “bullshit.”
His Red One director, Jake Kasdan, and co-star Chris Evans stepped up to defend him. Kasdan, who has worked with Johnson on several films, said, “He never missed a day of work ever.
He can be late sometimes, but such is Hollywood — that’s the case with everybody. Honestly, I’ve made three big movies with him. I’ve never seen him be anything but great to every single person on the set.”
Chris Evans, who co-stars in Red One, shared similar sentiments. Evans highlighted that while Johnson does come to set slightly later on some mornings, it’s not unexpected or unplanned.
“He works out in the mornings before coming to set,” Evans explained. “But this is something that the producers and director know. It’s all part of the schedule. So I wouldn’t even call it late; it’s worked into the plan, and everyone knows it.”
Evans also pointed out the positive side of Johnson’s behavior, sharing a story about how generous he could be with the crew. During one filming day, Johnson gave out a combined $100,000 to various crew members as part of a giveaway.
According to Evans, it started as a small amount, but Johnson kept increasing the pot, ultimately handing out thousands of dollars. “The pot was up to four or five grand, and Dwayne said, ‘Let’s call it 20,’” Evans recalled. “And then he kept upping it. On one Friday, he gave away close to a hundred thousand dollars.”
Despite the controversy stirred by the report, Johnson’s colleagues appear to have his back. They describe him as a hardworking and generous actor who makes sure to respect and appreciate everyone on set. Red One, which promises to be a holiday hit, is set to open in U.S. theaters on November 15, and fans are eager to see Johnson in action.
