The Rock vs. Vin Diesel: Inside Their Years-Long Feud and Reconciliation -

The Infamous Feud Between The Rock and Vin Diesel

Rock vs. Vin Diesel: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Vin Diesel have had one of Hollywood’s most well-known rivalries, which led to Johnson refusing to work alongside Diesel in the Fast & Furious franchise for years. The tension between the two actors reached its peak when Johnson publicly criticized Diesel, calling him “chicken s**t.” But what led to this heated exchange, and how did the two ultimately reconcile?

The Instagram Post That Started It All

In August 2016, Johnson took to Instagram to express his frustrations while filming Fate of the Furious (the eighth installment in the franchise). In his now-deleted post, he praised his female co-stars but had harsh words for his male colleagues:

“There’s no other franchise that gets my blood boiling more than this one. My female co-stars are always amazing and I love ’em. My male co-stars, however, are a different story. Some conduct themselves as stand-up men and true professionals, while others don’t. The ones that don’t are too chicken sh*t to do anything about it anyway. Candy asses.”

Though he didn’t name Diesel explicitly, many inferred that the post was directed at him, fueling speculation about the rift between the two stars.

Vin Diesel Responds

Vin Diesel initially downplayed the feud, claiming that the two were good friends. In an interview, he said:

“I think some things may be blown out of proportion. I don’t think that was his intention… In my house, he’s Uncle Dwayne.”

However, Diesel later admitted in a Men’s Health interview that his approach to working with Johnson involved “tough love” to bring out a stronger performance:

“My approach at the time was a lot of tough love to assist in getting that performance where it needed to be. We had to get there, and sometimes, at that time, I could give a lot of tough love.”

The Rock Walks Away From Fast & Furious

Following their public back-and-forth, Johnson announced that he would not be returning for future Fast & Furious films. In an interview before the release of Jungle Cruise, he wished the cast well but made it clear that he was done with the franchise:

“I wish them all the best on Fast 9, 10, 11 and the rest of the Fast & Furious movies they do that will be without me.”

He later addressed Diesel’s “tough love” remarks in a Vanity Fair interview, saying:

“Unlike [Vin Diesel], I did not come from the world of theatre. I came up differently and was raised differently. I came from a completely different culture and environment. I go into every project giving it my all. When I read that, just like everybody else, I laughed. I laughed hard. We all laughed. Somewhere I’m sure Fellini is laughing too.”

Vin Diesel Publicly Calls on The Rock to Return

Despite their differences, Diesel made a public plea for Johnson to return to the franchise. In November 2021, he posted an Instagram photo of their Fast & Furious characters with a heartfelt message:

“My little brother Dwayne… the time has come. The world awaits the finale of Fast 10. As you know, my children refer to you as Uncle Dwayne in my house. There is not a holiday that goes by that they and you don’t send well wishes… but the time has come.”

Diesel also invoked the memory of the late Paul Walker, saying:

“Legacy awaits. I told you years ago that I was going to fulfill my promise to Pablo. I swore that we would reach and manifest the best Fast in the finale that is 10!”

The Rock Calls Diesel’s Plea “Manipulation”

Johnson did not appreciate Diesel’s public post, calling it an attempt at “manipulation.” In an interview with CNN, he said:

“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post. This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly – and privately – that I would not be returning to the franchise. I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return.”

“Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation. I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it. We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding.”

The Reconciliation: How Rock vs. Vin Diesel Returned to Fast & Furious

Despite the bad blood, the director of Fast X, Louis Leterrier, managed to broker peace between the two stars. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leterrier played a crucial role in convincing Johnson to return to the franchise.

The Rock made a surprise cameo at the end of Fast X, paving the way for a larger role in the upcoming sequel, Fast X: Part II. Additionally, he has announced a Hobbs solo spin-off film, further solidifying his place in the Fast & Furious universe once again.

Conclusion of Rock vs. Vin Diesel

While their feud lasted for years and seemed irreparable at times, The Rock and Vin Diesel have finally put their differences aside—at least professionally. With Johnson’s return to Fast & Furious, fans can look forward to more high-octane action and the continuation of one of Hollywood’s most popular franchises. Only time will tell if their reconciliation will last, but for now, the Fast & Furious family is back together.