Dwayne Johnson Spirals Further Down Concerning Path

You know him as Black Adam, Maui from Moana (2016), Dr. Smolder Bravestone from the Jumanji film series, or even the Tooth Fairy. But retired professional wrestler turned actor and producer Dwayne Johnson stepped into another arena this week: podcasting.

The former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” hosted by the highly controversial Joe Rogan. Though Rogan’s show is one of the most popular on Spotify and other streaming platforms, many have raised concerns about its impact on listeners.

Rogan claims political independence but often spews anti-science ideology and COVID-19 denialism. He refused the COVID-19 vaccine but encouraged viewers to take the dangerous horse dewormer Ivermectin against medical experts’ advice.

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Last year, Rogan insisted schools had installed litterboxes for kids who identified as animals, though that rumor was widely debunked. (One teacher had a box of litter in his classroom in case children needed to use the bathroom during a life-threatening emergency, like a school shooting.)

“The Joe Rogan Experience” also platforms guests with incorrect information or alt-right viewpoints. Notorious guests include white supremacist Milo Yiannopoulos, infamous conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars, and Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes. Many of these interviews were removed from streaming platforms because Rogan didn’t challenge his guests’ racist and violent ideology.

Rogan’s interview with Dwayne Johnson premiered on Wednesday, November 15. In the nearly three-hour episode, the pair discuss their first cars, the Fast X (2023) star’s dreams of a country singing career, his fighting career, and politics.

Johnson claimed an unnamed political party asked him if he would consider running for president against then-President Donald Trump.

“First of all, incredibly f***ing surreal cause I was the guy wrestling in flea markets years ago looking for free corn dogs and hot dogs and s***,” The Scorpion King (2002) star said. “Selling my headshots for five bucks trying to make money, and all of a sudden, I’m having that conversation.”

He wasn’t sure if the idea was a sign of worsening times or a compliment to his talent.

“It was so incredibly surreal but also so incredible that they had all this data that they had said if this happens, here’s the result,” the Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) star continued. “I appreciate it, and I’m f***ing honored, but it made me think, this is either an incredible thing, and I’ve got some pretty decent leadership skills, or things are so f***ed up.”

Johnson added that he has “never been into politics. As a matter of fact, there’s a lot about politics that I hate.”

He also distanced himself from current President Joe Biden, noting that he couldn’t think of one of his friends who supported current White House leadership. Johnson previously endorsed the Democratic President during the 2020 election.

Instead of a specific candidate, the former wrestler said he supports the right to disagree.

“I have friends who are loyal to the party,” he explained. “I have friends who are like, f*** it, I’m not voting for either one [Trump or Biden] last election, this election. But it’s that kind of thing, where I would love to see us get to this place where it’s ok [to disagree].”

Less than a month before Johnson’s appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” fans were worried about the actor following a concerning social media post. But his chumminess with Rogan isn’t entirely new. He publicly supported the podcast host until February 2022, when he cut ties with Rogan after a video of him saying the N-word resurfaced.

Should Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have gone on “The Joe Rogan Experience”?

This post is originally appeared on Inside the Magic.