Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is facing criticism from Taylor Swift fans after his verified Instagram account allegedly liked a reel that questioned her talent. The incident has also sparked discussion about Johnson's prior public support for the singer.
The reel, which was posted by @therealebjohnson, criticised Swift's singing, dancing, and songwriting. Some fans questioned why Johnson would engage with a post targeting an artist he had previously praised, while others defended the criticism or considered the reaction to the alleged like excessive.
The Instagram Controversy
Screenshots of the supposed like spread online, leading Swift's fans, known as Swifties, to express disappointment on X. Some questioned whether the interaction was intentional, while others suggested it may have been accidental.
One fan wrote: 'Did not expect that from Dwayne Johnson. I am extremely disappointed in him especially how he seemed to be supportive and included in her career. Maybe it was an accident idk.'
did not expect that from Dwayne Johnson...I am extremely disappointed in him especially how he seemed to be supportive and included in her career....maybe it was an accident idk :(
— emma ❤️🔥 (encore version) (@shookswiftie) October 25, 2026
Another questioned the contrast between Johnson's previous support for Swift and the reported interaction, writing: 'Like how do you lip sync to her song, be in a music video, ask for her to release (before it was out) Bad Blood (Taylor's Version) so it could be included in your movie without using the stolen version at that time...to this...???'
This comment references Johnson's performance of Swift's 'Shake It Off', his appearance in her 'The Man' music video, and the inclusion of 'Bad Blood (Taylor's Version)' in his animated film for DC. A separately user speculated about a possible personal reason, writing, 'Probably butt hurt because she invited every influential Hollywood person to her wedding... and forgot all about him.'
Fans Divided Over Reaction
Some users, however, defended the engagement. One commenter wrote, 'Rock is absolutely right for liking that post calling Taylor Swift a bad singer, bad dancer, and bad songwriter. Hope he doesn't come out with some apology to the woke Swifties. Based Rock. He's finally waking up about the woke nonsense'.
Another dismissed the backlash and said, 'IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE SWIFTIES THINK!!'. Some netizens offered more balanced perspectives on Swift's music. One commenter wrote, '2014-2018 Taylor Swift was great. Now she's not good'. Johnson also received personal criticism, such as, 'He's an idiot... he's also a MAGA moron... so this should not be a surprise,' or that 'He's always been a pretend good guy'.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE SWIFTIES THINK!!
— MRR19 🇬🇧🍷 (@MichaelRealReed) October 26, 2026
Nah he’s always been a pretend good guy.
— Cortney (@cortcdr) October 26, 2026
Inside Their Exact History
Johnson's previous support for Swift helps explain why the alleged interaction surprised some fans. In 2015, Johnson lip-synced to 'Shake It Off' from Swift's 1989 album. He later voiced the male character in the final scene of Swift's self-directed music video for 'The Man' from her 2019 Lover album.
Swift's 'Bad Blood (Taylor's Version)' was featured in DC League of Super-Pets, where Johnson voiced Krypto. The re-recorded track was part of her effort to regain control of her music catalogue.
This came after the original masters of her first six albums were sold in 2019. According to the Guardian, Swift and her lawyer stated she was not given the opportunity to purchase the masters herself. She later purchased the masters in 2025
Separately, in 2024, Johnson described Swift as the world's biggest star. He also stated that he once contacted the singer to help secure Eras Tour tickets for a close friend.
Neither Johnson nor his representatives have publicly addressed the reported Instagram interaction. The reasoning behind the like is unclear, as is the speculation that it was accidental.
