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Dwayne Johnson Unveils The Emotional Reason Why He Made The Smashing Machine
Dwayne Johnson has revealed that the main reason behind the making of his last movie is based on the support and tribute to his companions who have suffered addiction and depression.
On Thursday, Dec. 18, talking to Variety, 53 years old Johnson, revealed the motivation for making The Smashing Machine, a film depicting the life of UFC Legend Mark Kerr (Johnson) and his wife Dawn (Emily Blunt) as she supported him through the various struggles of a personal life that resulted in one of the most legendary wrestlers and mixed martial artists that history has ever seen.
“I lost 15 friends in the last 20 years to addiction and suicide,” the ex-wrestler said. “They simply couldn’t bear the pressure,” he added.
Dwayne Johnson Says The Smashing Machine Is a “Love Letter” to Those Who Struggle
He went on saying “In some way, The Smashing Machine is like a love letter to the men and women who struggle and have made it on the other side and haven’t made it on the other side.” And that’s why “Smashing Machine” actually turned into a movie, that’s the thing.”
Over the years, the ‘Moana’ star has been open about his close circle of friends and family, including his mother Ata Johnson, who has fought the same dark thoughts. When he was only 15, his mother tried to kill herself by walking into oncoming traffic on a Nashville highway. In addition, he’s talked about his personal battles with the illness.
“”Help ‘em thru it, get ‘em talkin’ about the struggle and remind ‘em that they’re not alone,” Johnson wrote on social media in 2018. “We were fortunate that day when I was 15, and that isn’t always the case.” One day,”
Dwayne Johnson Talks About His Own Experiences With Depression
In 2015, Johnson shared the harrowing experience of witnessing his mother’s suicide attempt during a segment for OWN’s Oprah’s Master Class. He also revealed that he went through a depressive episode when he was 23 years old after he failed to get into the NFL and, subsequently, when he was cut from the Canadian Football League, effectively ending his professional football career.
“What I discovered is that in dealing with depression, one thing that is very crucial is that you understand that you are not alone. You are not the first one to experience it,” he admitted at that time. “I so badly wished, that I had just one person at that time who would have pulled me aside and said, ‘Listen, it’s all going to be alright’.”
Dwayne Johnson Shares Mental Health Advice Inspired by Personal Loss
During 2024, he went live on Instagram, posting a video in connection with World Mental Health Day. He also gave his followers some very useful tips on how to spot when someone is struggling and offer them support.
“Everyone is battling demons internally and quite a few people choose to keep it to themselves. They hardly ever flirt with the idea of discussing it and I have learned in quite a few situations through my own mistakes,” he disclosed. “So when I ask my friends how they are doing I don’t really ask them what’s wrong. I ask them in a way like ‘How is your heart? How are you?’ And it is really great to see people’s faces when you do that”, he pointed out.
Dwayne Johnson Asks Fans to Check On Their Loved Ones Who May Be Going Through “Mental Hellness”
He shared, “I know what it feels like to have mental health issues. I know what it feels like to go in a downward spiral… I have experienced it myself.” He further explained that he refers to those moments as “mental hellness.”
He said, “So it’s really just a nice way of saying to keep in contact with your friends.” Be sure to check on your loved ones because if you don’t… Over the years I have lost friends who have chosen to check out. They just couldn’t cope with the stress and the pressure of life. The whole thing of mental hellness got too much for them.”
