Golden Globes 2025: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Vin Diesel’s awkward awards encounter revisits feud

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson (left) and Fast & Furious co-star Vin Diesel have been at odds with each other in the past. Photo / Getty Images

Two of the biggest names in action movie history had a frosty encounter at the 82nd Golden Globes on Monday, putting a spotlight on their famous feud and speculation as to where their fraught relationship stands.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his Fast & Furious co-star Vin Diesel haven’t always seen eye to eye, including the revelation that the two refused to film scenes together in The Fate of the Furious (2017), so it came as quite a shock to viewers when Diesel took to the presenting podium and gave Johnson a shoutout.

“Hey Dwayne,” Diesel said in the middle of his presenting speech for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.

The camera then cut to Johnson, who let out an awkward smile amid muffled laughs from those in the room.

Many fans took to social media expecting a similar outburst to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022, but the interaction didn’t escalate to that.

“Lmao, that was lowkey awkward fr,” one person commented.

“Their beef has to be for the cameras, there’s no way,” another said.

The pair’s feud started almost a decade ago, gaining traction on the internet in August 2016 after Johnson called out a “chicken s***t” and “candy a**” co-star on Instagram.

Many speculated that the comments were in relation to Diesel, with sources later confirming this was the case.

Johnson seemingly left the main Fast & Furious franchise due to the beef, opting to focus on spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) with fellow action titan Jason Statham.

Fast and Furious stars Vin Diesel and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

Diesel later told Men’s Health in 2021 that the “tough love” he gave Johnson in trying to enhance his character of Hobbs was what led to tension on set.

“Not Felliniesque, but I would do anything I’d have to do in order to get performances in anything I’m producing,” he said.

But the beef was seemingly quashed in 2023 after Johnson shocked fans by appearing as Luke Hobbs in a Fast X mid-credits scene.

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in the movie Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw. Photo / NZME

“Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us,” Johnson posted on X/Twitter on June 1, 2023.

“We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve — and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love".

It is uncertain as to where the two actors now stand, and it remains to be seen if the pair will publicly respond to the recent Golden Globes interaction.