George Takei is criticizing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson after the actor said he intends to keep his political views private, arguing that choosing not to speak out is itself a political decision.
The exchange began after Johnson told Esquire earlier this month that he has grown increasingly disillusioned with politics and wants to focus his energy on storytelling rather than public political debates.
Reflecting on his priorities, Johnson said his work has become the central focus of his life.
“What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep—need, not want—the main thing. And the main thing for me, the thing that in the morning I swing my legs out of bed and I run towards, is creating. It’s art. It’s storytelling,” Johnson said.
As a political independent & centrist, I’ve voted for both parties in the past. In this critical presidential election, I’m endorsing @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris.
Progress takes courage, humanity, empathy, strength, KINDNESS & RESPECT.
We must ALL VOTE: https://t.co/rZi1mxh8DC pic.twitter.com/auLbc8xDBv
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2020
He went on to explain that while he remains willing to discuss a wide range of subjects, he no longer wants politics to dominate his public life.
“I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself. There are moments when, hey, there’s nothing we can’t talk about. If I’m wrong, I’ll tell you I’m wrong. Or if I feel like I got a leg up and this is the right way to go, I’ll share it with you. Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever. I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bullshit that comes with it.”
The comments drew criticism from actor George Takei, who responded on Threads with a brief but pointed message.
“Silence is complicity,” Takei wrote.
Actor Wil Wheaton also weighed in, expressing disappointment with Johnson’s position.
“So disappointing to find out he is such a coward,” Wheaton posted.
Johnson’s latest remarks expand on comments he made during the 2024 presidential campaign, when he announced he would not endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris after publicly backing President Joe Biden in 2020.
Speaking to Fox News at the time, Johnson said he believed withholding an endorsement was the right approach.
“My goal is to bring this country together. I believe in that. There will be no endorsement. At this level of influence, I will keep my politics to myself. It is between me and the ballot box,” he said.
Johnson’s decision marked a noticeable shift from his earlier willingness to publicly endorse presidential candidates. Rather than continuing down that path, he has increasingly framed political neutrality as a personal choice rooted in his frustration with the tone of modern political discourse.
The Esquire interview also touched on another issue rapidly reshaping the entertainment industry: artificial intelligence.
Johnson said he approaches AI with cautious optimism, arguing that technological change should be explored rather than feared.
“I’ve always been an advocate for embracing big change—after taking a hard look at it,” he said. “We can either stick our heads in the sand and be afraid, or we can say, ‘Okay, we’re here. Let’s see. Let’s explore.’”
