Johnson denies insulting millennials
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a problem with millennials whose feelings are too quickly hurt, or so the Daily Star reported.
The U.K. tabloid said the actor and former WWE superstar bemoaned the sensitive nature of “generation snowflake,” then took a pivot by saying that the world has never been as tolerant as it is today. And the “Rampage” and “Skyscraper” star supposedly tied it all together with military service.
Johnson responded by posting a video on Instagram. He not only denied ever saying such things, but said he never had a one-on-one sit-down with the publication.
“The interview never took place, it never happened, I never said any of those words. Completely untrue, 100 percent fabricated,” Johnson said before chuckling. “I was quite baffled when I woke up this morning.
“I’ve gained such a great trust and equity with all you guys all around the world over the years,” he continued. “You know it’s not a real D.J. interview if I’m ever insulting a group, a generation or anyone because that’s not me, and that’s not who I am, and that’s not what we do.”
Johnson ended the video by saying, “So to the millennials, the interview never happened. To the plurals, the baby boomers, the snowflake generation — I don’t even know where that term came from — ... I always encourage empathy. I encourage growth but most importantly I encourage everybody to be exactly who they want to be.”
The Daily Star’s article quoted Johnson as saying, “So many good people fought for freedom and equality — but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended.
“If you are not agreeing with them then they are offended — and that is not what so many great men and women fought for.”
The Daily Star’s story was short on details on what might have had Johnson feeling this way, stating only that he was offended that people were so easily offended.
It did, however, list a number of U.K.-centric examples of political correctness that it said has the U.K. “mourning the death of comedy due to humourless crowds demanding no risky jokes.” Johnson, an American, might not have gotten some of the British references.