Actors George Takei and Wil Wheaton criticized Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson this week after the Hollywood star reaffirmed that he intends to keep his personal political views out of the public eye.
The criticism followed Johnson’s recent Esquire cover story, in which he explained why he has stepped away from celebrity political endorsements and grown increasingly disillusioned with the nation’s political climate.
Takei, best known for his role in Star Trek, shared a post on Threads referencing Johnson’s comments.
“Silence is complicity,” Takei wrote.
Actor Wil Wheaton also took aim at Johnson in a Threads post that was later deleted, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“So disappointing to find out he is such a coward,” Wheaton wrote.
Not everyone agreed with the criticism. Comedian Matt Rife defended Johnson on social media, mocking Wheaton’s remarks.
“I love how he’s a ‘coward’ but could quite literally tear Wil’s throat out through his a–hole,” Rife wrote on X. “This internet comment world is so bold.”
In Johnson’s interview with Esquire, the actor said years of public engagement with politics convinced him that he is better off keeping those views private.
“What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep—need, not want—the main thing the main thing,” Johnson said. “And the main thing for me… is creating. It’s art. It’s storytelling. I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself.”
Although he acknowledged he may occasionally speak out on issues in the future, Johnson said he has grown tired of the nature of modern political discourse.
“Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever,” he said. “I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bulls— that comes with it.”
Johnson’s position represents a notable shift from earlier in his career. In 2020, the self-described independent endorsed then-candidate Joe Biden for president.
However, by 2024, Johnson publicly expressed regret over making a presidential endorsement, saying he believed it contributed to further political division.
Speaking with Fox News host Will Cain during the 2024 election cycle, Johnson said the backlash to his endorsement caused him to rethink the role celebrities should play in politics.
“The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was what I thought was the best decision for me at that time,” Johnson said. “The takeaway after that… I started to realize, ‘Oh man, that caused an incredible amount of division in our country.'”
He said that realization led him to sit out the 2024 presidential race rather than endorse either candidate.
“My goal is to bring our country together,” Johnson said. “I believe in that, in my DNA. So in the spirit of that, there’s going to be no endorsement.”
Johnson also rejected the idea that his decision stemmed from fear of public criticism.
“Not that I’m afraid of it at all,” he said. “It’s just I realize that this level of influence—I’m going to keep my politics to myself, and I think it’s between me and the ballot box.”
The exchange reflects a broader debate over the role of celebrity activism. While some public figures argue entertainers have a responsibility to use their platforms for political advocacy, others—including Johnson and actors such as Billy Bob Thornton—have recently suggested that celebrities are not obligated to publicly endorse candidates or inject themselves into partisan debates.
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