‘Moana’ Star Dwayne Johnson Faces Backlash After George Takei Criticizes His Political Silence

Dwayne Johnson is facing criticism online after explaining that he plans to stop speaking publicly about politics. The actor and producer recently told Esquire that he wants to focus on his work and keep his political views private, but the decision has drawn reactions from several Hollywood figures.

One of the people responding to Johnson’s comments was Star Trek actor George Takei. On Threads, Takei criticized Johnson’s choice to remain silent on political issues, writing, “Silence is complicity.”

Stand By Me actor Wil Wheaton also reacted to the situation, sharing his disappointment with Johnson’s decision. Wheaton wrote, “So disappointing to find out he is such a coward.”

Johnson’s comments came during an interview with Esquire, where he explained that he no longer wants politics to be part of his public image. The actor said his main focus is creating movies and telling stories rather than joining political debates.

“What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep — need, not want — the main thing. And the main thing for me, the thing that in the morning I swing my legs out of bed and I run towards, is creating. It’s art. It’s storytelling,” Johnson told Esquire.

The actor also explained that he has decided to keep his political opinions private because of the constant conflict surrounding political discussions.

“I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself,” Johnson said. “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 bullshit that comes with it.”

Johnson previously faced attention for his political comments after he publicly supported Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election. In 2024, he told Fox News that he regretted making that endorsement because he felt it created division among his fans.

At the time, Johnson said his goal was to bring people together and confirmed that he would not endorse a candidate in future elections.

“My goal is to bring this country together. I believe in that. There will be no endorsement. At this level of influence, I will keep my politics to myself. It is between me and the ballot box,” Johnson said.

The debate around celebrities speaking about politics has become a common topic in Hollywood. Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence faced similar questions when she discussed her own decision to step back from political conversations during an interview with The New York Times.

Lawrence previously spoke openly against Donald Trump during his first presidential campaign and administration. However, she later explained that she became unsure whether public statements from celebrities actually changed people’s opinions.

“Celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for. So then what am I doing? I’m just sharing my opinion on something that’s going to add fuel to a fire that’s ripping the country apart,” Lawrence said.

The actress added that she wants to protect her work and avoid making political disagreements stop audiences from connecting with her films. “I want to protect my craft so that you can still get lost in what I’m doing,” Lawrence explained.

Instead of making political statements directly, Lawrence said she prefers to express her views through the projects she creates. She pointed to films from her production company, including Bread and Roses and the abortion rights documentary Zurawski v Texas, as examples of using storytelling to discuss important issues.

While Johnson’s decision to stay away from political discussions has received criticism from some celebrities, the actor has made it clear that his priority is focusing on entertainment, filmmaking, and connecting with audiences through his work.

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