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Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, says that the Daily Star fabricated an interview in which the actor allegedly called out “generation snowflake” in a defense of heroes who fought for “freedom of speech.”
Johnson, 46, a former wrestler, has turned into one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors. He now is host of the new physical challenge show “The Titan Games.”
The Daily Star reported that Johnson chose to speak out after “a flood of snowflake stories hit the headlines.”
“So many good people fought for freedom and equality – but this generation are looking for a reason to be offended,” Johnson said.
“If you are not agreeing with them then they are offended – and that is not what so many great men and women fought for,” Johnson said.
“I don’t have to agree with what somebody thinks, who they vote for, what they voted for, what they think, but I will back their right to say or believe it. That’s democracy,” Johnson said.
“We thankfully now live in a world that has progressed over the last 30 or 40 years,” Johnson said. “People can be who they want, be with who they want, and live how they want. That can only be a good thing — but generation snowflake or, whatever you want to call them, are actually putting us backwards.”
The “snowflake” slang insult may sound like a new term to many ears, but it has a history that goes back to the Civil War era. In the early 1860s, a “snowflake” was a person who was against the abolition of slavery — meaning they valued white people over black people and wanted slavery to continue.
During the 1970s, snowflake was often used as a derogatory term towards black people who “acted white.”
The current use seems to stem from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Fight Club, which grimly reminds the reader: “You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everyone and we are all part of the same compost pile.”
According to Johnson, who has denied that the interview took place, the Daily Star completely fabricated the story. Johnson says that he said none of it.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect Johnson’s denial.
