Are Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel Good Friends Now Following Their Real Life Feud In 2016?

For over two long decades in the entertainment industry, Dwayne Johnson has won the heart of several people. Hailing from a sports family, Johnson would choose WWE after a disappointing football career. However, soon after he would leave WWE to pursue acting and join Hollywood. Although he would undergo a period of struggle, Johnson fought hard to rise to the top, to become one of the highest-paid actors in the world. Currently valued at $800 million, Johnson is one of the richest actors in the world.

Apart from being a former athlete, Johnson is also a fitness enthusiast as can be evident from his physique. Johnson is often the alpha himself in his films until he starred alongside Vin Diesel in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Vin Diesel is also one of the most popular names in Hollywood and has over the years been a part of several high-paced action films, especially the Fast & Furious franchise. He is best known for his portrayal of Dom Toretto in the F&F franchise.

However, it was during this time of shooting together that, Johnson and Diesel started having altercations, which turned into an out-and-out rivalry between the two. Diesel has been an integral part of the franchise ever since its beginning in 2001, alongside the late actor Paul Walker.

Johnson would however join the series a decade later in 2011, in Fast 5, as Luke Hobbs. Unfortunately, soon enough Diesel and DJ had a rift, and animosity was born between them. Johnson would last act in the eighth film of the franchise, before appearing in Hobbs & Shaw, a spinoff, and then leave the franchise forever.

Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel’s Relationship: How did their Friendship turn into a feud?

As history can verify, Johnson and Diesel used to be good friends. Diesel’s kids even referred to Johnson as their uncle. However, not every good thing lasts forever, and soon their friendship turned into a bitter rivalry.

In 2016, Johnson had an outburst on his social media handle, and called out his male c0-stars from the franchise as “candy a**es” and highlighted their unprofessional behavior. However, soon the post was deleted, but the world had already seen it all.

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Ever since then, their relationship turned sour, and Johnson was last a part of the spin-off, ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ where Diesel chose to skip the film altogether. It turned out to be Johnson’s last film in the franchise, and he has not returned since then.

It all started in 2016, when Johnson would call out his male co-actors, and termed them as unprofessional. Although the post was deleted soon, Johnson claimed, “When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I’m not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling — you’re right.” Although he never took any name, the hints were directly pointed at Vin Diesel.

Sources claim that it was Johnson’s behavior on set and arriving late that led to Diesel having problems with him. However, another source claimed that it was Diesel’s alleged ‘diva-like-behaviour‘ that made Johnson’s blood boil.

However, Vin Diesel in 2017 claimed that everything was good between them and that there was no animosity. In an interview with USA Today Diesel claimed, “I protected Dwayne more than he’ll ever know and it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have to know, but he appreciates it.” He further claimed himself to be Johnson’s big brother, and that he is an uncle to his children.

Although, Johnson never showed any regrets for the comments he made during his deleted Instagram post, and was still strong on his point. Despite Diesel’s comments about everything being good, The Brahma Bull of WWE never returned back to the franchise.

Johnson claimed that Diesel’s action of bringing their family and Paul Walker into the incident made him angrier. Johnson claimed, “Leave them out of it. We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding.” It is also to be noted that Johnson had called Diesel using his and Paul Walker’s children to request and bring Johnson back to the franchise as manipulation.

He missed the ninth film of the franchise. And might miss the tenth as well.

Where do Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel stand now? Are they still beefing?

It has been years since their feud first started. However, Johnson had implied to Los Angeles Times in 2017 that their feud was blown out of proportion and was being used as a free publicity medium for the upcoming film.

Film c0-star Tyrese Gibson also attached himself to the feud and called out Johnson for messing with his family. He even threatened to walk out of the franchise, if Johnson returned.

However, Johnson never returned. While Johnson never showed any regrets for his comments, Diesel always protected anyone involved in the feud. He stated that their feud was made larger than it was, and they remained good friends off-screen.

However, their beef has turned softer than it was initially. And after the 2019 film, ‘Hobbs & Shaw’, Johnson even thanked Diesel for his support throughout. However, it was also made clear by Johnson that he would not be returning to the franchise again, after missing the ninth film.

In a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair, the 50-year-old Johnson claimed that they have moved past their beef, and after a heated and clear conversation, they have decided to leave it there. Although they are not feuding anymore, Diesel and Johnson are still far beyond from being friends again.

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