Hollywood stars began lashing out at Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on Monday after he reiterated his stance to keep his personal politics out of the public eye.

After telling Esquire earlier this month that he hates the “slinging” of modern politics, “Star Trek” alum George Takei and “Stand By Me” actor Wil Wheaton took to social media to slam Johnson, with Takei arguing that his silence makes him “complicit.”

“Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s recent comments to Esquire about wanting to ‘keep my politics to myself’ have divided fans, with some calling out his silence,” Takei wrote on Threads.

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He then replied to his post on Monday, writing, “Silence is complicity.”

Wheaton also called out Johnson in a Threads post, later deleted, that was reported by Entertainment Weekly, writing, “So disappointing to find out he is such a coward.”

However, some came to Johnson’s defense online, including comedian Matt Rife, who took to X to mock Wheaton’s “coward” comment.

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“I love how he’s a ‘coward’ but could quite literally tear Wil’s throat out through his a–hole,” Rife wrote on Wednesday, adding, “This internet comment world is so bold.”

The controversy stems from Johnson’s Esquire interview for the magazine’s Summer 2026 cover story. The actor, known for starring in the “Fast & Furious” franchise as well as the “Jumanji” films, explained why he’ll be keeping his political views private from now on.

“What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep — need, not want — the main thing the main thing,” he said. “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. I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself.”

He added that there may be moments in the future when he takes a stand or shares an opinion, but he warned that politics is “forever.”

“Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever,” he added. “I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bulls— that comes with it.”

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The star previously said that he regretted making an endorsement in the 2020 election. (Shaniqwa Jarvis)

Johnson has not been shy about speaking his mind on politics in the past, endorsing former President Joe Biden during the 2020 election, despite identifying as an Independent. 

However, in April 2024, Johnson joined Fox News’s Will Cain to explain why he would not be endorsing a candidate for the 2024 presidential race.

“The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was what I thought was the best decision for me at that time,” Johnson told Cain, adding that the division it caused “tears me up in my guts back then and now.”

“The takeaway after that months and months and months, I started to realize like, ‘Oh man, that caused an incredible amount of division in our country.’ So I realize now going into this election, I’m not going to do that. I wouldn’t do that because my goal is to bring our country together. I believe in that, in my DNA. So in the spirit of that, there’s going to be no endorsement,” he continued.

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Dwayne Johnson attended a press event for Disney’s live-action “Moana” at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre in Shanghai Disney Resort on June 23, 2026, in Shanghai, China. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

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“Not that I’m afraid of it at all, but 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,” Johnson added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s representatives for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Hume contributed to this report.