In September of last year, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Oprah Winfrey created “The People’s Fund of Maui” to assist residents of Lahaina who were affected by wildfires. Their combined donation of $10 million was the starting point for the initiative, and The Rock later urged others, including working-class individuals, to contribute. However, his request for donations was met with significant backlash, which left him confused by the response.
At the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference, The Rock took on a villainous persona as he entailed in a war of words with Cody Rhodes, even delivering a slap. While many interpreted this as a heel turn, one individual attributed the audience’s reaction to The Rock’s involvement in the Maui wildfires fund controversy.
The Rock took to Twitter to address the matter and denied any connection between the two incidents. He clarified that his actions at the press conference were part of his wrestling persona, emphasizing that playing the role of a “heel” is a standard practice in the WWE universe. Additionally, he provided an update on the success of “The People’s Fund of Maui,” highlighting its substantial contributions to wildfire survivors.
Expressing his deep connection to Hawaii and its people, The Rock underscored the ongoing struggles faced by residents and stressed the resilience of the Polynesian American community. He urged the individual making the claim to redirect their energy towards positive actions and support for Hawaii, inviting them to join him in uplifting efforts.
”I typically refrain from responding to toxic, false clickbait garbage like this because I hate dignifying b****** with a response, but when you use Hawaii’s tragic events to draw attention to yourself I won’t stay quiet.”