The Rock Responds to Set Rumors: ‘Some True, Some Wildly Exaggerated

Dwayne Johnson and His Co-stars Address Reports of Delays, On-Set Courtesy, and That Infamous Bottle Incident

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has responded to recent reports accusing him of costly delays and less-than-professional behavior on the set of Red One. In a new interview with GQ, Johnson confirmed some claims were accurate but argued that the picture painted was far more dramatic than reality.

A report by The Wrap alleged that Johnson was frequently late, sometimes by as much as seven to eight hours a day, contributing to the production’s $50 million budget overrun. Johnson admitted he was occasionally late, but balked at the idea of it being as extreme as reported, calling the claims “crazy” and “ridiculous.” He added that the broader controversy surrounding his behavior was “bullshit.”

Backing up Johnson, Red One director Jake Kasdan dismissed the allegations of prolonged absences. “He never missed a day of work ever,” Kasdan insisted. “He can be late sometimes, but that’s common in Hollywood. I’ve worked with him on three major films, and he’s consistently shown respect and kindness to everyone on set.”

Co-star Chris Evans echoed Kasdan, attributing any occasional delays to Johnson’s rigorous morning workouts. According to Evans, “It’s part of his schedule, and everyone knows it. I’ve worked with actors who are much less considerate of others’ time; Dwayne’s predictable and respectful.”

While Johnson and his collaborators downplay the impact of his timing, critics note that delays on set can mean hundreds of crew members waiting around, adding time and cost to the project—even if it’s expected.

Johnson also confirmed another rumor: his on-set habit of peeing in bottles during long filming days. “Yeah. That happens,” he said, though he didn’t elaborate further.