Dwayne Johnson's take on singing in theaters makes fans angry amid 'Wicked' etiquette debate

LONDON, ENGLAND: Dwayne Johnson has sparked a wave of criticism online after suggesting that moviegoers should feel free to sing along in cinemas during the UK premiere of 'Moana 2'.

His comments come amid a heated online debate triggered by the recent release of 'Wicked', where opinions are sharply divided on whether singing along enhances the experience or disrupts it for others.

Johnson’s statement on singing, made amid the etiquette debate, has only fueled the conversation, adding further intrigue to the ongoing controversy.

Dwayne Johnson encourages moviegoers to 'sing' along during films at 'Moana 2' premiere

Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as Maui in 'Moana 2', the sequel to the 2016 musical adventure, has stirred controversy following a recent debate about theater etiquette. Fans have been divided over whether it's acceptable to express excitement by taking pictures or singing along during films.

Amid the discussion, Johnson, aka The Rock, spoke to BBC News on the red carpet at the 'Moana 2' premiere, saying, "Especially if you love music, that’s the fun part." 

He went on to defend his opinion, adding, "Sing! You’ve paid your hard-earned money for a ticket, and you've gone into a musical, and you’re into it. Sing."

When asked about voicing Maui in the animated film and the differences between his wrestling career and voice acting, Johnson quipped, "Maui actually is a demigod. The difference is wrestlers think that they’re demigods, but they’re not. I know that because I was one of them."

He also shared how his family, especially his three daughters, love seeing him take on the role, saying, "Because they see themselves in Moana, they feel they’re represented and they feel a sense of representation from the film too."

Co-star Auli'i Cravalho, who voices Moana, described the character as a strong and brave young woman. "I think Moana is at the forefront of a conversation where the word princess and the word hero are now interchangeable," she explained.

"She is strong, she is brave, she is not afraid to grab a demigod by the ear. She looks strong as well, at the helm of her ship."

At the movie premiere, the evening was transformed into a Polynesian island setting, complete with palm trees, a beach, and dancers, setting the perfect backdrop for the celebration.

Dwayne Johnson's comments on 'Moana 2' premiere sparks online backlash

After Dwayne Johnson's comments about singing in the theater while watching a movie, many internet users were quick to share their reactions online.

One user slammed, "If you want to sing along, go to a concert smh 🤦‍♂️." 

A second user claimed, "The rock needs to know his damn role and shut his damn mouth. We already gotta deal with the f**ks who talk throughout the whole movie now he wants people to sing?!? For $17 a tickets?!? No thanks." 

A netizen shared a GIF of Dwayne Johnson raising his eyebrows, accompanied by a caption claiming, "OR ppl should do the exact opposite lol. I paid money to watch the movie… not to hear someone butcher the songs out loud 💀😭." 

An individual wrote, "Get me in a theater with Dwayne. I can make him admit he was wrong." 

One person explained, "You paid to see a musical or movie, not be in a musical or movie. I didn't pay my hard earned money to hear you singing or anything else in there. Once you can watch it at home go for it, but when you're in the theaters keep it quiet." 

One person questioned, "What about the people who paid their hard earned money to watch the movie in peace?" 

One person shared a picture of Johnson displaying an aggressive reaction, "Me sitting behind anyone loudly singing during a movie." 

Another user mocked, "Sure, The Rock, but if I’m sitting next to you in a theater, I’m gonna need you to save that ’singing in the shower’ vibe for later. Not everyone’s ready for a live concert in the middle of a movie!🤭"

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.