Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has made a devastating confession following viral images of himself which prompted fans to become ‘concerned.’
The actor and former WWE superstar, now 53, has taken on a whole new role in brand-new biographical sports drama, The Smashing Machine.
He portrays legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who proves to be very different from his usual larger-than-life characters.
But it’s not just the transformative acting that fans have picked up on, but also his dramatic physical transformation.
The Rock’s new look has stunned fans, some of whom have renamed him ‘The Pebble.’
Gone are the bulging muscles that have been his signature look for decades.
Instead, Johnson has opted for a toned and athletic physique, more fitting for the role of an MMA fighter.
Some reports have suggested that the star has lost as much as 60 pounds, now weighing closer to 240 pounds.
As per Men’s Health, The Rock took on a more protein-focused, low-sugar diet, and paired it with endurance-based workouts.
But fans online have claimed that his new look is also just a natural consequence of ‘ageing.’
One said: “He’s just aging y’all, don’t worry.”
As another added: “He’s getting older as we all are, looks genuinely happy, and hell, he looks freakin’ great.”
A third noted: “The man’s 53, did people expect him to be insanely buff into his 70s or something?”
But amid the rumors about his new look, the actor made a devastating confession about the empathetic nature of his character, and how he couldn’t draw on his own father for inspiration.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, he said: “I don’t think my dad was an inspiration in terms of his tenderness.
“It wasn’t really my dad. He was homeless by the time he was 13, so his capacity for love was very limited, and that’s the man that raised me.”
Reflecting on his father’s passing, Johnson posted an emotional tribute on Instagram.
“Man, I just wish that I could hug him one more time and kiss him on the cheek and look him in the eyes and say, ‘We’re good,’” he wrote.
“All that other s***? You realize it just doesn’t matter when they’re gone, especially when they’re gone.”
Fans left heartfelt tributes in the comments, as one said: “If he only knew what you’d become. Incredible.”
As another added: “Your dad is with you all the time. And so proud of the amazing person you are”
A third wrote: “He changed the WWE world. True legend.”
