With Fast X: Part 2 on the horizon, Vin Diesel is extending an olive branch — and a whole lot of praise — to former co-star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The actor took to Instagram with a heartfelt message celebrating Johnson’s impact on the Fast & Furious franchise and reflecting on what was once one of Hollywood’s most infamous behind-the-scenes feuds.
Diesel posted a throwback photo of the pair on set and wrote a lengthy caption honoring their history together. “One of the greatest gifts in life isn’t something you can buy, it’s the relationships forged along the way,” he said, recalling how he first met the real Mark Kerr while training for xXx in 2002 — the very man Johnson portrays in his upcoming film The Smashing Machine. “In a beautiful way, he was there at the beginning of my action career. That’s the kind of friend he’s been from day one.”
Diesel continued the tribute by celebrating Johnson’s contributions to the franchise and the larger cultural perception he carries.
“People don’t understand what it takes to uphold a global perception every single day,” Diesel wrote. He also recalled the moment fans first suggested a team-up between the two performers, long before Johnson ever joined the series.
“What followed became one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema — two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable. When he stepped into Hobbs, he did it with full commitment and left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame.”
The actor ended his message by applauding Johnson’s work in The Smashing Machine: “Dwayne really did it… He brought us back in time and shined doing it.”
Why Did The Rock and Vin Diesel Fall Out?
The truce comes after nearly a decade of tension between the actors. Their feud went viral in 2016 when Johnson posted an Instagram message calling an unnamed male co-star a “candy ass” and “chicken shit.” It was quickly revealed that the comments were directed at Diesel.
Diesel later said in 2021 that “tough love” was the root of their conflict, explaining that he believed he needed to push Johnson to deliver the level of intensity he wanted for Hobbs. “My approach at the time was a lot of tough love,” he said. “Not Felliniesque, but I would do anything I’d have to do in order to get performances in anything I’m producing.”
Johnson rejected a public invitation from Diesel to return for Fast X in 2021, insisting he was done with the franchise — but in true Fast Saga fashion, that turned out to be a misdirect. Johnson shocked fans when he appeared in the Fast X mid-credits scene in 2023, confirming the two men had reconciled. “Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us,” Johnson tweeted at the time. “We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve — and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love.”
via Collider