Why Did TheGrio Give Dwayne Johnson the Inspirational Icon Award? Does The Rock Deserve It?

Dwayne Johnson is an incredible WWE star and Hollywood mogul rolled into one man. The 51-year-old has headlined countless main events, has several blockbusters to his name, and has many successful businesses. Honoring Johnson for his inspiring achievements, TheGrio recently presented him with the ‘Inspirational Icon Award’.

TheGrio is an American television network and website that speaks about black people, their lifestyles, and their opinions. The network recognized Johnson for the effect he had on people. From having seven bucks in his pocket, Johnson has built himself into someone everybody wants to be. But, is his impact really that large, and did Dwayne Johnson really deserve such a great honor?

Making it big in Hollywood despite added challenges

Dwayne Johnson recently appeared in an interview with TheGrio’s Touré after winning the prestigious Inspirational Icon Award. Speaking at the show, Johnson mentioned a rather interesting fact. While The Rock now boasts several smash hits at the box office today, there was a time when Hollywood wasn’t sure what to do with him.

According to Johnson, “When I first got to Hollywood, I felt like Hollywood was a little unsure of what to do with me… coming from the world of pro wrestling, there was no blueprint for that. I was kind of flying by the seat of my pants and not everybody was welcoming to me. That’s OK. It’s a competitive world. I get it.” While Johnson mentioned this detail about his initial days, he also spoke about the good parts.

“But I never forgot the ones who were very welcoming and who told me, hey, brother, you’re doing the right thing. You’re on the right track. It ain’t going to be easy, especially of color, especially where you came from. So keep doing it like this. And that was Byron Allen,” Dwayne Johnson said as he mentioned the 62-year-old TV producer. 

While The Rock had appealed to the national audience, he wanted to make globally recognized movies. He mentioned that it was a time when superhero movies sold like hotcakes at the time, and had the highest chance of becoming a global phenomenon.

Read more- Deep Dive Into Fan Website Urging Dwayne Johnson to Run for President

However, when he didn’t get a superhero role despite chasing them, he forged his own way to go international.

Dwayne Johnson and his journey to become a global superstar

Mentioning his alternative to superhero movies, Dwayne Johnson said in the same interview, “I see, well, I don’t have to be a superhero to have global appeal. So, therefore, for any movie I make, I’m going to personally travel myself around the world. And I’m going to go to every country. I’m going to go to every capital, I’m going to spend time there. And I’m going to put in that equity with those countries.” While this was an effective strategy, it took some time to pay off.

The Rock continued, “And eventually, even if there were movies that didn’t do that, well, yeah, it was the fact that I had boots on the ground there.” The vision that The Rock had several years ago, eventually bore fruit, and he has now become a bonafide international star. While Johnson’s workout videos already emphasize how disciplined he is, his international journey hammers the point even further.

WATCH THIS STORY:- “I Can’t Be Treated That Way”: Former WWE Presenter Known for Hilarious Segments with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Vows to Never Return to Wrestling

Interestingly, Dwayne Johnson got his superhero movie, or rather, an anti-hero movie in 2022, as DC’s Black Adam. To this day, Dwayne Johnson continues his sacred practice of traveling around the world to promote his movies. Thus, it can be easily said that he definitely is a deserving winner of the award. What are your thoughts on this? Let them flow in the comments.