DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON COMES CLEAN ON STEROID USE

Generation IronThe Rock dishes on his past.

Former WWE superstar and popular actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has recently gone on record about his steroid use in an interview with Fortune. To many it may not be shocking to hear that a former professional wrestler has dabbled in steroid use. But Johnson isn’t just any former wrestler. He’s a household name, a man whose crossover success is an inspiration to many young hungry up and comers, whether in wrestling, acting, or other endeavors. This makes him an easy target.

In an interview with Josh Horowitz of MTV, Johnson admits that he did try steroids in his late teens. “I tried it,” Johnson said. “Me and my buddies tried it back in the day when I was 18 or 19. Didn’t know what we were doing.” It essentially adds up to being nothing more than a young kid experimenting with something that was unknown to him. So how exactly has steroid use affected Johnson’s career? They haven’t in the least.

Johnson’s use of the anabolic substance was an isolated incident. “They want to negate the hard work you put in,” Johnson states about members of the online community that believe his muscle gains in recent years to be steroid fueled. It’s easy to blame Johnson’s physique on steroids, but what detractors seem to forget is the man’s genetics. Coming from an athletically gifted family, Johnson has the genetic body type to obtain such a bulked and defined form. When your father is Rocky Johnson and your grandfather is Peter Maivia, you’re likely to have an easier road to bulking up through hard work.

So is Johnson’s steroid use something he should be ashamed of? A reason to lambast the star? Not in the least. Dwayne Johnson is a hard working and inspirational figure whose bigger than just one incident. And to be fair, plenty of people have used steroids and have been no worse for wear. Everyone wants to put a negative spin on the anabolic substance, but in truth, with proper education on the subject, many would understand that steroid use isn’t as terrifying as the media makes it seem. It isn’t fair to label him a “roidhead” because of the hard work Johnson puts in the gym. Even if Johnson currently used steroids, which we doubt he does, it shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s a great actor, role model, and human being. Before throwing around labels, people in the media and in online communities need to be educated in order to have an opinion that carries weight.

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Jonathan Salmon
Managing editor of Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. He has been writing about bodybuilding, combat sports, and strength sports for over 8 years. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.