How Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson’s Feud Started— and How They Ended It
The Fast and Furious series is a study in underestimation and contradiction: the franchise was a critical failure until its fifth installment, and despite the franchise grossing $5 billion and boasting some of the most absurd vehicular stunts ever committed to film, its stars insist that the series all comes down to family. Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson’s feud, which began on set and made its way into the press, is a reflection of these contradictions. Every time the book seems closed on the much-reported story, either Vin or Dwayne refuels the fire with a social media post, and it feels like we never truly know where they stand with each other.How did this now infamous feud begin? Who, if anyone, is to blame? And why did the two action powerhouses and co-stars manage to quash their conflict— hopefully for good?What was Vin and Dwayne's feud really about?Vin's furious determinationVin Diesel’s side of the story begins in New York, where a young Vin searched for a place he could fit in as a multicultural boy passionate about acting and Dungeons & Dragons. He found refuge in the theatre and honed his acting skills for years. Though he struggled to break into Hollywood due to his “ambiguous” background, Vin's conviction in what he was meant to do never wavered.I know as sure as I’m breathing, I’ll be the biggest movie star in the world. There wasn’t a hair of doubt.Finally, in the early 2000s, Vin broke through with a string of hits: Pitch Black, XxX, and of course, The Fast and the Furious. These roles cemented Vin as an action star with the latter film, a crime/street racing action movie, introducing him not only to his best friend, Paul Walker, but also providing him the opportunity to build himself a multi-cultural Hollywood family while developing the Fast and Furious sequels into a record-busting box office powerhouse.The Rock's meteoric riseMeanwhile, in Hawaii, a young Samoan-Canadian football star was torn between pursuing a pro sports career and following in his family’s footsteps as professional wrestlers. Dwayne Johnson became known as The Rock after making his WWE debut. His theatrical personality, natural charm, and powerful physique made him one of the most popular stars in the WWE and he made his mark as one of the greatest performers in the franchise. But that wasn’t his only dream.They said what do you want to accomplish? I said I want to accomplish the world. Because of my ambition.In the early 2000s, Dwayne stepped away from the ring to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He starred in several action movies, gradually working his way to the top of Hollywood over the next decade. Then the struggling Fast and Furious franchise came knocking on his door.Their furious feudDwayne Johnson’s triumphant debut as Luke Hobbs in Fast Five played a part in the movie’s smashing success at the box office and positive critical reception. He was widely credited with reviving the series that Vin had spent years building.How to re-ignite an ageing franchise? Drop [Dwayne Johnson] on it.EmpireIt seemed like the ideal partnership between action powerhouses, but behind the scenes, there was trouble in paradise.Reports of an on-set feud between Dwayne and Vin went public after Dwayne shared a photo on Instagram with this caption about his unnamed male co-stars:Some conduct themselves as stand up men and true professionals, while others don’t.Speculation was rampant that Dwayne was criticizing Vin and the roar only grew louder when he posted another photo that thanked members of the "Fast Fam"— except Vin.For his part, Vin dismissed the feud as two alphas butting heads, but reports flew that Dwayne was late to set, Vin was letting his ego control his producing, and that the two refused to film scenes together on The Fate of the Furious.It’s not always easy being an alpha. And it’s two alphas. Being an alpha is sometimes a pain.Vin Diesel, USA TodayWith Dwayne’s character getting his own spinoff movie, Hobbs & Shaw, rather than appearing in the next Fast and Furious movie, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Vin and Dwayne’s rift wouldn’t be mended any time soon, but once again, the action stars did the unexpected.Rising above the furyDwayne had a big summer: the premiere of Hobbs & Shaw was quickly followed by his wedding to longtime love Lauren Hashian.Despite the stories about Vin resenting the new spinoff, Vin took time out from filming Fast & Furious 9 to congratulate Dwayne on both his successful movie and his new marriage. “Real shoutout to Dwayne and Jason— by the way, congratulations on your wedding, Dwayne. Lauren’s a special girl and you have a beautiful family.The man Vin’s kids call “Uncle Dwayne” responded by thanking Vin for reaching out and inviting him into the Fast Family:I’m grateful for that invite. As you know, my goal was always, all these years, to come into the Fast & Furious world and help elevate the franchise in any way that I possibly could. If I could do that, then I’ve done my job, and now here we are 10 years later… We did it the right way, we did it the smart way, and again, brother, I appreciate your support.Vin and Dwayne were able to put aside their pride in order to keep building something huge and record-breaking together— and always, they bring it back to the family they found along the way:Family is gonna have differences of opinion and fundamental core beliefs. To me, conflict can be a good thing, when it’s followed by great resolution. I was raised on healthy conflict and welcome it. And like any family, we get better from it.What's your fight?Vin and Dwayne’s stories mirror each other’s in many ways, but their similarities also caused them to butt heads. The resolution of their “feud” is a reminder that we should face conflict head on and grow from it however we can. Backing down from your conviction is a very different thing from backing down from your pride.Only by setting aside their egos and putting their shared passion first were Vin and Dwayne able to move forward and expand upon their dreams. Letting your pride rule over your drive will only hold you back. Without ego and unresolved resentment weighing you down, you’ll be able to rise higher — and faster— than you ever have before.More inspiring celebrities:The Mistakes That Taught Terry Crews How to Be a ManWhy Eddie Murphy’s Movie is Dedicated to His Brother CharlieHeath Ledger’s Greatest Gift to the World Wasn’t JokerLinda Hamilton’s Terminator Journey Took Her Full Circle
Why Eddie Murphy's Movie is Dedicated to His Brother Charlie
We all know Eddie Murphy— when we see the name, many iconic characters spring to mind, along with hilarious one-liners and physical comedy. You may know him for stint on Saturday Night Live, his string of hit comedy films in the '80s and '90s, his Golden Globe-winning turn in Dreamgirls, or even his groundbreaking standup career.But what about Charlie Murphy? Eddie Murphy’s older brother Charlie was a standup comedian, actor, and screenwriter in his own right, best known for his performances in Dave Chappelle’s iconic sketch TV series Chappelle’s Show. Experts within the comedy industry laud Charlie as one of the most under appreciated talents in the scene, with director Craig Brewer saying, “"He may not have been as famous as Eddie, but he was a really talented and funny cat.” If you don’t know Charlie Murphy’s name, then you likely have no idea that he died in 2017 after a battle with leukaemia. Or that Eddie Murphy’s comeback film My Name is Dolemite is dedicated to his memory.What else don’t you know about Eddie and Charlie Murphy?Their tragic childhoodThe Murphy brothers’ childhood ended sooner than most, with their parents’ divorce when Eddie was just three years old, followed by his father’s murder five years later.Neither Charlie nor Eddie had it easy growing up, but older brother Charlie stepped up to serve as his little brother’s protector whenever he could. Eddie was understandably traumatized by the loss of his father, but Charlie did his best to be Eddie’s rock.When their mother became so ill that she had to be hospitalized for months, Charlie and Eddie were put into foster care. Thankfully, the brothers were not separated, but they spent a year in the system before being returned to their mother’s care. Despite their tough childhood, Eddie credits the hard times with developing his razor sharp wit and wicked sense of humor. While Eddie turned to the standup comedy scene to channel his pain, Charlie was drawn into gang violence. Eddie was without his brother for the first time when Charlie was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Charlie credits his mother with helping him clean up his act, as she encouraged him to join the military.As Eddie's star rose, Charlie was stuck in the shadowsAs Eddie rose to the top of the comedy scene, Charlie reclaimed his role as his brother’s protector by serving as Eddie’s head of security. While he loved being able to support his brother, Charlie’s own creativity was being stifled in the role. He recalled, “I was there for the person I loved and the people around him didn’t like it. Being there to support someone else is cool if you’re a troop but I’m a general. I like being out in front. I left shortly after that happened and wrote my first film script.”Eddie was also moving away from standup and into the world of Hollywood, but Charlie found his place as a sketch performer with Dave Chappelle. He turned his role as an observer behind the scenes into the Chappelle's Show's now iconic "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories" segment. The stories he wrote and shared about Prince and Rick James are still referenced daily— often by people who have no idea who they originated from!Charlie stepped into a spotlight of his own makingWith the abrupt end of Chappelle's Show, Charlie took advantage of the challenge of making ends meet-- turning it into an opportunity to test himself on the biggest dream he'd always been afraid to chase: he set out to be a standup comedian.Though Eddie hadn't performed standup in two decades by that point, his shadow still loomed large over Charlie. "When I first started doing comedy, I was 42 years old and I was the brother of one of the most celebrated comics in history who made his name in the game 20 years earlier. So, that took a lot of bravery," he said. Once he set his mind to it, Charlie slowly but surely made his way up through the world of standup, earning the respect of iconic comedians such as Chris Rock and DL Hughley. Of course, his greatest admirer was his little brother."Eddie sometimes comes to my shows. He’s proud of me. He talks about doing stand-up himself again but he’s hesitant after all this time. He doesn’t want to be compared to me," Charlie told Metro.Charlie's legacy for Eddie-- and for usIn 2017, Eddie's protector finally faced the one battle he couldn't win: cancer. He left behind a long career of writing, standup, and acting, along with two daughters.Eddie mourned his brother in private: "Charlie filled our family with love and laughter and there won’t be a day that goes by that his presence will not be missed." He also found a way to honor is brother creatively. He produced and starred in My Name is Dolemite-- a movie about the comedian Charlie had introduced him to-- and dedicated the movie to Charlie's memory. Even more significantly, Eddie resolved not just to return to live sketch comedy by guest hosting Saturday Night Live, but also decided to make a return to standup up, three decades after his last iconic run-- and three years after Charlie's death.Both brothers stories are powerful lessons about tackling the dream you're most afraid of pursuing, not to mention never letting egos get in the way of family or your passion. Charlie protected his brother until he realized it was time to stop playing defense. Then he was able to live his dream.I’ve never felt like I was living in anyone’s shadow. My life was what it was. I was always proud of my brother. He helped me tremendously, but we’re family so we were never in his shadow.Charlie Murphy in Essence (2009)More comedians:Kevin Hart Opens up About the Car Crash That Changed His LifeThe Mistakes That Taught Terry Crews How to Be a ManJames Corden Reminds Us That Shame Isn’t the Answer
Heath Ledger's Greatest Gift to the World Wasn't Joker
Heath Ledger — the Australian actor who starred in 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight’s Tale, Brokeback Mountain, I’m Not There, and finally The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus — is most widely remembered for two things: his untimely death at the young age of 28 and his Oscar-winning role as the Joker in The Dark Knight. With Joaquin Phoenix’s remarkable performance in Joker, much has been made of comparing the two actors, trying to determine which is the greatest embodiment of the character. Both actors are lauded for elevating the comic book movie genre to a level of high art.But as undeniably remarkable as Heath’s performance as the Joker was, the obsession with that character overshadows the much deeper, more lasting impact he left on the world. Beneath the face paint and the unsettling laughter lay a complex performer uninterested in celebrity, a new father, and creative jack-of-all-trades. If Joker isn’t Heath Ledger’s real legacy, what is?His greatest passion was his familyHeath’s most tangible legacy is, of course, his daughter Matilda. Born in 2005, she was three years old when Heath died.By all accounts, fatherhood came naturally to Heath, who described Matilda as “beautifully observant and wise. Michelle and I love her so much.” He told In Touch, “Becoming a father exceeds all my expectations. It’s the most remarkable experience I’ve ever had-- it’s marvelous." Four weeks after her birth, Heath was relishing the active role he was playing assisting new mom Michelle in carrying for their daughter. "It's exhausting, but it's a pleasure waking up to your daughter.” He told The Sun Times. Being a father was his number one priority: "My duties in life are that I wake up, cook breakfast, clean the dishes, prepare lunch, clean those dishes, go to the market, get fresh produce, cook dinner, clean those dishes and then sleep if I can.”Raised by her mother Michelle, Matilda is now a teenager, but has been carefully kept away from the spotlight as both of her famously private parents would have intended.But Michelle has a constant reminder of Heath in their daughter, who keeps their love very much alive: “I always say to Matilda, 'Your dad loved me before anybody thought I was talented, or pretty, or had nice clothes.'"Becoming a father didn’t just enrich Heath’s personal life— it pushed him further creatively as well. "So fatherhood has changed me as an artist because I feel things on a deeper level,” he said in The Sun Times. "I think my performances will grow simultaneously."He wasn’t wrong. The Academy Award he won posthumously for his most widely beloved role, Joker in The Dark Knight, belongs to Matilda.Whatever Matilda chooses to do with her life, she has the inspiration of two talented parents who fearlessly pursued their creative passions.Having a child changes every aspect of your life — for the better, of course. The sacrifices are large, but what you get in return is even bigger than the sacrifices you make. I feel, in a sense, ready to die because you are living on in your child. Not literally, not ready to die — but you know, that sort of feeling in a profound way.Heath Ledger to Susan Chenery (2007)He didn't limit himself to actingClosely linked with Heath’s passion for acting was his love of music and his desire to be a director in his own right. He even reached out to his friend, musician Ben Harper, to compose a lullaby for Matilda. The song “Happy Ever After in Your Eyes” is a moving tribute to the love he felt for his daughter. Heath directed a music video for Harper in turn, as well as videos for several other artists. He’d spoken of his desire to direct a documentary about musician Nick Drake and to adapt 1984 by George Orwell, and planned to open a record label with Harper as well.His impact on other musicians can be keenly felt in the songs dedicated to him in the wake of his death, including “Vlad the Impaler” by Kasabian and “Perth” by Bon Iver.But his most striking creative legacy outside of his acting must be the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship, funded after his death and presented by his family to 10 young actors, including Cody Fern (American Horror Story, The Assassination of Gianni Versace) and Bella Heathcote (The Neon Demon, Strange Angel). I'm not supernatural. I've done nothing extremely special to deserve the position. It happens every couple of years, and it's happened to hundreds of people before me.Heath Ledger to Newsweek (2000)He led Jake Gyllenhaal by exampleOf course, we can’t talk about Heath’s impact on young actors without singling out one performer in particular: his Brokeback Mountain co-star Jake Gyllenhaal. First hitting it off after their mutual failures at Moulin Rouge auditions, Jake says that his desire to work with his friend was a big factor in signing on to Brokeback Mountain: “To me, Heath was always somebody I admired in a way. He was way beyond his years as a human… I wasn’t really quite sure where we came from.”Their performances and chemistry in Brokeback Mountain earned both actors their first Oscar nominations, and Jake won his first major acting award for his role as Jack Twist.Jake had been acting since childhood but credits his experience working with Heath on Brokeback Mountain as the turning point in his art and career. “I look at the choices Heath was making at that time and he was years, years beyond me,” Jake recalled. “Incredible acting choices about craft that I didn’t understand yet… And now they are all things that are part of my process and how I process character.”When Heath died in 2008, Jake was understandably devastated. He didn’t make a movie until the following year.As he mourned Heath, Jake told People he came to a realization, “This is fleeting. None of the sort of attention or sort of synthesized success of a film matters really matters at all. What matters is the relationships you make when you make a film and the people you learn from when you’re preparing for a film. That changed a lot for me.”The care and creative freedom with which Jake has approached his roles him films like Zodiac, Prisoners, Nightcrawler, and Nocturnal Animals speaks to the lasting impact Heath had on his friend. As he told NPR, "I know that not only can this career end in a very short period of time… but also that life is precious. And I think losing Heath — and being a part of a family that was something like that movie we all made together — makes you see that, makes you appreciate that and hopefully moves you away from the things that really don't matter to the things that do."I try not to think about the outcome. If you look that far ahead, it sort of taints your choices as an actor.Heath Ledger to The Daily Telegraph (2007)What will your legacy be?Like so many lives, Heath’s cannot be boiled down to a single moment of greatness. Instead, the positive impact he had on the world was continually reinforced by his integrity, creative passion, and determination to challenge himself.Whether in a big-budget comic book movie or a home movie no one saw til years after his death, Heath found ways to push himself further. He refused to repeat himself creatively and embraced new experiences full-heartedly It’s true; not everyone can be the Joker-- but everyone can impact the world like Heath Ledger did by fearlessly pushing themselves forward and loving wholeheartedly.
Social House on Turning Pain Into Pop Art
Social House, made up of Mikey Foster and Scootie Anderson, are a musical duo who first made their footprint in the music industry by writing and producing for stars like Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Trainor, NCT 127, and Ariana Grande -- for whom they co-wrote several songs on her platinum album Thank U, Next.Their move into the artist/performer sphere coincided with Grande's "Sweetener" world tour and she brought Social House on as her openers, where they performed their own songs like "Music in the Hamptons" and their newest single, "Boyfriend" -- featuring Grande.Even prior to their rise to stardom, Foster and Anderson have had a long history of seeking connection through music. When they finally met, two isolated, creative spirits forged an unbreakable connection by expressing their pain through their art.First, they had to fight their way out aloneMikey credits music with saving his lifeMikey Anderson's family was very poor growing. He recalls having to choose between utilities such as gas, electricity, and water. Everything changed when a member of his church saw his talented and gifted him a computer to make music.A whole new world was opened to him: "I had something to do. I had something that somebody had given to me and that was like a goal that I could have. Literally that inspired me to spend all my time and actually build a dream. Somebody else believed in this dream so now I can actually believe in it too. It was like that was validation I needed."Raised in a violent environment by parents who struggled with drug addictions, Mikey found a positive outlet in the music he was creating. "Music was the way I cried, it was the way I lived," he recalls. "I didn't know how to express myself other ways." On winter nights when the heat was off, Mikey would head into that mouldy basement room and find sanctuary in his music. "The ability to cry in a productive way, and the ability to put forth that energy towards good and meaningful that could actually grow the world." The strength he gained from the songs he made empowered him to do anything -- even to risk everything and move out to LA to follow his dreams.Scootie grew up idolizing his sister, a gifted singer in her own right An overachiever in school, Scootie Anderson was shy and struggled to connect with the people around him. He was an athlete, a student, and a performer in musical theater, but couldn't reach out on a personal level.Feeling isolated and left out when his sister ran away, Scootie turned to music for a sense of belonging. The only problem was: he only had one CD, and it was an anti-drug school-sponsored album. Still, it gave him a feeling of support and connection he couldn’t find elsewhere in his life. “It was therapeutic because somebody was talking to me," he shared.Scootie has brought this learning to his writing and producing work. Grande, in particular, has opened up about therapeutic effect that recording Thank U, Next had for her. She told Vogue the album "was this moment of self-realization. It was this scary moment of ‘Wow, you have to face all this stuff now. No more distractions. You have to heal all this shit.’""Experiences connect us all"As producers, Social House see it as their gift to help artists channel their pain and experiences into music: "No one can really tell a story better than the person going through it."When they were introduced to Grande, Mikey confesses he didn’t know who she was right away: "She was knitting a scarf on the floor in the garage and she just seemed extra cool."Who she was didn't matter -- what mattered was what she had been through in the last couple yers. Social House were able to help her channel those experiences into songs like "7 Rings", "Thank U, Next", "NASA", and "Goodnight n Go".Making something beautiful and uplifting out of a painful lived experience is pop music at its purest level.“The overwhelming amount of painful scenarios you go through helps you really help you connect with other people,” says Mikey. “I think that things that happen in your life, they happen for you, not to you. It’s really important to realize that because you could think life is here to crush you or you could think life is here to build you and make you stronger and make you more capable.”In their own music, they clearly live this ethos: "We put our experiences into songs because, just like we said, experiences connect us all. Everybody has gone through that one thing where it made them feel this type of way. It’s like: we’re with you. We feel you."Whatever form your self-expression takes, Social House are a reminder that channeling the painful and difficult things you have been through into something positive won't just help you -- it also helps others. "That’s what music is, entirely, right?" Mikey explains. "Just connection. Just telling somebody that it’s going to be okay, in your own way."
