It's safe to say Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will not be returning to the Fast & Furious franchise.
In a new interview with CNN, published Wednesday, Dec. 29, the Young Rock actor explicitly stated that he has no interest in reprising his role as Luke Hobbs, even after Vin Diesel issued a public plea in November.
For those who haven't been following the saga, Diesel wrote on Instagram last month, "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. Legacy awaits."
Diesel continued by referring to their co-star, the late Paul Walker, by his nickname, Pablo. "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!" he added. "I say this out of love... but you must show up, do not leave the franchise idle you have a very important role to play. Hobbs can't be played by no other. I hope that you rise to the occasion and fulfill your destiny."
Though Diesel's Instagram post was met with excitement from fans of the franchise, Dwayne said he was "very surprised" to see it shared in the first place.
"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," Johnson explained. "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."
Johnson added that he also informed Universal Pictures about his decision and "all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem."
And though Diesel seemingly had good intentions, Johnson called his post an "example of his manipulation," saying, "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."
Johnson said that after his earlier conversation with Diesel, he thought they had a "clear understanding" and hoped to leave the franchise with "gratitude and grace." However, he feels the "this public dialogue has muddied the waters."
"Regardless, I'm confident in the 'Fast' universe and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience, and I truly wish my former co-stars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter," Johnson concluded.
The Red Notice star first hinted that there was drama between him and Diesel in a since-deleted 2016 Instagram post in which he wrote in part, "My female co-stars are always amazing and I love ‘em. My male co-workers however are a different story."
In 2021, he told Vanity Fair that he regrets airing his frustrations publicly but his sentiments remain the same.
(E! and Universal Pictures are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)
Take a look at the most famous celeb feuds below:
In August 2022, Cassadee and Maren traded harsh words with Brittany, wife of fellow country star Jason Aldean, after she shared an Instagram Reel of herself applying makeup on Aug. 23, writing, "I'd really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life."
During a TikTok challenge, JoJo Siwa described Candace Cameron Bure as the "rudest" celebrity, later explaining that she felt snubbed when Bure once refused to take a picture with her on a red carpet. Shortly after the dig, however, the Full House alum apologized: "I kind of broke your 11-year-old heart. I didn't take a picture with you. Ugh! I feel crummy, I feel—JoJo, I'm so sorry."
In June 2021, Courtney Love accused Olivia Rodrigo of copying her band Hole's album cover for a promotional photo without giving credit. Olivia responded, "Love u and live through this sooooo much." Courtney then replied, "Olivia - you're welcome. My favorite florist is in Notting Hill, London! Dm me for deets! I look forward to reading your note [winking face emoji]."
During an appearance Watch What Happens Live, the Happy Days actor was asked why he didn't get along with the Forrest Gump star on the set of the 1989 flick Turner & Hooch.
"I was directing that movie for 13 days and then I was called into [producer] Jeff Katzenberg's office and he said, 'You have everything with you? Go home,'" he said.
Winkler did, however, seem to get along with Hanks' four-legged co-star. "I got along great, great with that dog," he said. "Love that dog."
He also refused to admit if he's even seen the flick.
"You know what you did!"
Fans of The Hills will remember that iconic line, delivered by Lauren Conrad on the season three premiere. Their feud began when Heidi Montag started dating her now-husband, Spencer Pratt. The feud hit its peak after rumors started flying that Conrad had made a sex tape with her ex, Jason Wahler, rumors which Conrad believed Pratt and Montag started.
The Fast and Furious co-stars had been involved in an ongoing feud, which reignited when Gibson publicly called out Johnson on Instagram after the Fast and Furious 9 release date was pushed. The film was originally scheduled for release in April 2019, but the date was later pushed back to April 2020. That same day, it was announced that a Fast and Furious spinoff starring Johnson and Jason Statham would hit theaters in 2019. The following month, Gibson threatened to quit Fast 9 if Johnson was in the movie.
Gibson then opened up about the feud, telling Van Lathan on The Red Pill podcast, "I have yet to talk to The Rock to this day, and we will have a conversation." Gibson shared that he did have a conversation with Johnson's producing partner, but not the actor himself.
"I found myself being the messenger on behalf of various people associated to the franchise, but stupid me was the only one who went public about those feelings, which is my own fault," Gibson said. "It's not professional, it's not cool."
No more bad blood here.
Taylor Swift and Katy Perry had been in a feud for years, even allegedly inspiring Swift's song "Bad Blood." The drama, which reportedly started over a backup dancer and competing tours, came to an end in May after Perry sent Swift a literal olive branch before her Reputation Tour kickoff.
"So I just got to my dressing room and found this actual olive branch," Swift said in an Instagram video. "This mean so much."
Swift captioned the video, "Thank you Katy."
Sex and the City co-stars Kim Cattrrall and Sarah Jessica Parker had dodged feud rumors for years. But those rumors were reignited after Cattrall decided not to return for a third movie and made comments about her co-star that raised eyebrows.
"What was your reaction to Kim Cattrall telling Piers Morgan that you were never friends just colleagues?" Andy Cohen asked Parker on a Sept. 2017 episode of Watch What Happens Live.
As she explained, "Just...heartbroken. I mean that whole week, you and I spoke about it because I was just...I don't know I found it really upsetting because that's, you know, that's not the way I recall our experience."
"So...it's sad but I'm kind of...I don't know, I always think that what ties us together is this singular experience is the thing. It was a professional experience but it became personal because it was years and years of our lives. So I'm hoping that that sort of eclipses anything that's been recently spoken," she continued. "That many years spent doing something so special that people had a connection with is such a privileged."
The iconic singers have been feuding since 2004. While accepting the Classic Songwriter Award at the Q Awards that year, Elton John said to attendees, "Madonna, best f--king live act? F--k off! Since when has lip-syncing been live? Sorry about that, but I think everyone who lip-syncs in public on stage, when you pay like 75 quid to see them, should be shot."
Former Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl sparked a feud with series creator Shonda Rhimes in 2008 when she removed her name from the Emmy Awards consideration. The actress stated that her reason for the move was because she wasn't "given the material to warrant a nomination."
Rhimes later opened up about Heigl's decision during an interview with Oprah Winfrey on Oprah's Next Chapter in 2012. "On some level it stung and on some level I was not surprised," Rhimes said. "When people show you who they are, believe them. I carry that [mantra] with me a lot. It has served me well."
It was the New York Fashion Week fight heard 'round the world. Nicki Minaj and Cardi B got into a heated altercation at the Harper's Bazaar Icon party in September. The following month, Cardi opened up about the catalyst for the fight with Nicki.
"For a while now she's been taking a lot of shots at me," Cardi said in W magazine's Art Issue. "I spoke to her twice before, and we came to an understanding. But she kept it going."
The real spark of the fight came when Cardi saw that Minaj had allegedly liked and then unliked a tweet about Cardi's parenting skills, which Minaj has denied. "I was going to make millions off my Bruno Mars tour, and I sacrificed that to stay with my daughter," Cardi continued. "I love my daughter. I'm a good-ass f--king mom. So for somebody that don't have a child to like that comment? So many people want to say that party wasn't the time or the place, but I'm not going to catch another artist in the grocery store or down the block."
Tension between Kanye West and Taylor Swift first started in 2009, when the "Stronger" rapper took the stage during Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Years later, the two would make up and even become friends, but that came to an end after the release of West's song "Famous," in which he name-checks the "End Game" singer.
"I don't know her."
It's been over a decade since Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez's "feud" has been going on. It all started when Carey was asked to give her opinion on several singers during an interview. When asked her opinion on Lopez, Carey replied, "I don't know her."
Since that interview went viral, there's been an ongoing tension between the music icons.
Childhood BFFs Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie became pop culture sensations on their reality show, The Simple Life. Throughout the show's run, however, the two started to grow apart and sparked feud rumors for many years.
When Richie tied the knot with Joel Madden in 2010, Hilton was not invited to the wedding. But, Richie told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live in 2014 that she still has a lot of love for her friend.
"The short answer is I haven't spoken to her in awhile," she shared, "but we are very good friends and I love her and love her family and have a lot of respect for her."
While appearing on Megyn Kelly Today in Sept. 2017, Jane Fonda had little interest in talking to host Megyn Kelly about plastic surgery.
"You admit you've had work done, which I think is to your credit, but I think you look amazing," Kelly said. "Why did you say, I read that you said you felt you're not proud to admit that you've had work done. Why not?"
When Fonda replied, "We really want to talk about that now?" Kelly told the actress, "Well, one of the things people think about when they look at you is how amazing you look."
Fonda was quick to change the subject. "Well, thanks," Fonda responded. "Good attitude, good posture, I take care of myself. But let me tell you why I love this movie that we did, Our Souls at Night, rather than plastic surgery."