Vin Diesel has publicly praised Dwayne Johnson's performance in the new film The Smashing Machine, marking a further thaw in their long-running feud. The 58-year-old actor shared a throwback photo with his former Fast and Furious co-star on Instagram, expressing support for Johnson's portrayal of UFC legend Mark Kerr.
In his post, Diesel wrote: “People don’t understand what it takes to uphold a global perception every single day. I remember asking our global family who they’d love to see me work with, and a woman named Jan left a comment saying her dream was for me to collaborate with Dwayne. What followed became one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema, two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable.”
Diesel also highlighted Johnson's commitment to the franchise, saying: “When he stepped into Hobbs, he did it with full commitment and left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame.” Referring to Johnson's performance in The Smashing Machine, he added: “Dwayne really did it… He brought us back in time and shined doing it.”
The feud between the two actors became public in August 2016 when Johnson posted a furious Instagram message about a male co-star, later confirmed to be Diesel, calling him a “candy ass”. Diesel attributed the tension to “tough love” aimed at eliciting a better performance, which Johnson dismissed with laughter. Johnson skipped Fast & Furious 9 but made a surprise cameo in Fast X.
In 2023, Johnson announced the feud was over, stating: “Last summer Vin and I put all the past behind us. We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve.” Despite this, the pair shared an awkward moment at the 2025 Golden Globes when Diesel gave Johnson a shoutout and received a frosty response.
