Back in 2016, prior to The Fate of the Furious wrapping, Dwayne Johnson posted a now-infamous message on Instagram, calling some of his male co-stars "candy asses." The post was quickly revealed to be about Vin Diesel, and a feud between Johnson and Diesel ensued.
Things cooled down a little over time, but hostilities were renewed after Diesel claimed his troubles with Johnson arose from him trying to get a good performance out of the Black Adam star. Johnson later responded, stating that the comments had made him laugh.
Now, Johnson has finally opened up about the Instagram post that brought their conflict into the public light. In a profile for Vanity Fair, the actor was asked whether the post was in response to a specific issue, but he said it was simply due to the overall issues he had had with Diesel. Johnson subsequently expressed regret over sharing their business on social media:
“It caused a firestorm. Yet interestingly enough [it was] as if every single crew member found their way to me and either quietly thanked me or sent me a note. But, yeah, it wasn’t my best day, sharing that. I shouldn’t have shared that. Because at the end of the day, that goes against my DNA. I don’t share things like that. And I take care of that kind of bulls—t away from the public. They don’t need to know that. That’s why I say it wasn’t my best day.”
Johnson then clarified that he stands by what he said — he simply regretted making the conflict public knowledge:
“No, I meant what I said. For sure. I mean what I say when I say it. But to express it publicly was not the right thing to do.”
The actor was also asked about a reported meeting between him and Vin Diesel. Johnson revealed that a meeting had indeed taken place, and that, while it wasn't peaceful, it did help him realize he and Diesel were different people:
“Well, there was a meeting. I wouldn’t call it a peaceful meeting. I would call it a meeting of clarity. He and I had a good chat in my trailer, and it was out of that chat that it really became just crystal clear that we are two separate ends of the spectrum. And agreed to leave it there.”
It's unfortunate to learn that the situation between them was so strained, as it clearly made for a poor and stressful work environment. Fortunately, both Johnson and Diesel have since gone their own ways, and have been able to focus on their careers separate from one another.
Dwayne Johnson will join the DCEU with Black Adam, which hits theaters on July 29, 2022.