In a recent GQ cover story, Dwayne Johnson addressed rumours of his controversial behaviour on the set of his upcoming holiday movie Red One, confirming some claims but firmly denying other allegations.
Reports from earlier this year, particularly from The Wrap, alleged that Johnson’s conduct on set contributed to significant budget overruns, largely due to his tardiness.
While Johnson acknowledged certain aspects of the story, he defended his work ethic and emphasized that many claims had been exaggerated.
The Red One production, reported to have escalated to a massive $250 million budget, allegedly saw costs soar by nearly $50 million due to what some sources claimed was Johnson’s habitual lateness.
According to The Wrap, he was sometimes as much as seven to eight hours late and even missed entire days of filming. However, Johnson’s response to GQ was quick to downplay these claims, calling the figure “a bananas amount” and outright “ridiculous.”
While he admitted he could be late on occasion, he strongly objected to the idea that he missed significant time on set, framing the controversy as “bullshit.”
Johnson’s Red One director, Jake Kasdan, and co-star, Chris Evans, were also quick to jump to his defence, both describing his behaviour on set as courteous, generous, and anything but disruptive.
Kasdan, who has collaborated with Johnson on multiple projects, stressed that Johnson had “never missed a day of work ever” during Red One filming and praised his general professionalism.
Evans echoed these sentiments, adding that Johnson’s occasional delays are well-known to the production team and pre-scheduled as part of his routine.
Evans explained that Johnson’s morning workout sessions might shift his arrival time, but production knows this and plans accordingly.
“It’s not like he’s late unexpectedly,” Evans shared. “I wouldn’t even call it late…he shows up when he’s scheduled to show up.”
“We all know exactly what he’s going to do when he’s going to do it,” Evans explained, crediting Johnson’s reliability and respect for the production process.
Johnson also confirmed an unusual, though practical, habit that fueled some of the controversy: using water bottles as makeshift restrooms during filming.
The actor explained that this practice allows him to save time while away from his trailer.
“Yeah. That happens,” Johnson admitted, while GQ did not press him for further details on this unique time-saving measure.
Aside from defending his punctuality and on-set conduct, Johnson’s co-stars and crew members also noted his generosity with the Red One team.
Evans shared a story about Johnson giving away up to $100,000 in cash prizes to crew members during filming.
“On one Friday, Dwayne gave away something like close to a hundred thousand dollars,” Evans recalled, noting the excitement it brought to the team and highlighting Johnson’s goodwill and dedication to the people he works with.
