That time The Rock was warned doing gay-for-pay would ruin his career… and he did it anyway
Out Magazine celebrated its 30th anniversary, and former editor Jeffrey R. Epstein (no, not that Jeffrey Epstein) marked the occasion by revisiting some of his favorite cover stories over the years.Among them was a feature with former WWE wrestler and current blockbuster superstar Dwayne Johnson titled “The Rock Goes Gay!” Reflecting on the piece, Epstein remarked that Johnson was a “class act” and one of “the nicest, smartest humans I have ever interviewed.”Later that day, Johnson quote-tweeted the memory, sharing that, at the time, he was warned that taking a gay role would ruin his career.
His response? “I said ‘hold my tequila and f*ck off.’ Nicely of course.”Jeff, thanks man so much for these very kind words. I always say, “it’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice”.
I was told back then (by a few influential folks) that playing a gay man would “ruin my career”I said “hold my tequila and f*ck off”Nicely of course ?
https://t.co/t2Irhk4EF9— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) July 31, 2022Regardless of your thoughts on gay-for-pay roles, it’s pretty cool for a straight actor like Johnson—especially someone with his star wattage and mass appeal—to have no hang-ups about playing queer.But this trip down memory lane inspired us to seek out the movie that convinced The Rock to “go gay,” and, uh, it’s a doozy.Be Cool was the confusing and poorly reviewed follow-up to the 1995 gangster comedy Get Shorty, both based on Elmore Leonard novels.
