In a stunning revelation that has resurfaced after more than a decade, global superstar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has finally disclosed how he managed to break the news of Osama bin Laden's death on social media before the official announcement from the White House.
The Shocking Tweet That Broke The Internet
On May 1, 2011, the WWE legend turned Hollywood actor sent shockwaves through the internet when he posted on Twitter, now known as X: 'Just got word that will shock the world - Land of the free...home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!' This extraordinary message came before then US President Barack Obama had addressed the nation about the successful military operation.
During a recent appearance on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, host Scott Feinberg confronted Johnson about the famous post, prompting the actor to react with 'Oh my God, this is not good' before eventually revealing the truth behind the premature announcement.
The 'Friend of a Friend' Connection
Johnson explained that he received information about the al-Qaeda leader's death through 'a friend of a friend' who contacted him directly. 'I've got a friend of a friend who gave me a call,' Johnson recalled. 'The call was like, "Hey, this thing happened." And I said, "Okay, wonderful news."'
The 53-year-old actor was informed that President Obama would be making his speech in approximately 20 minutes. However, in what Johnson describes as an embarrassing mistake, he posted his tweet about 25 minutes after receiving the initial call - only to discover the President hadn't yet taken to the podium.
'Then I get a second call, and the call is, "Yeah, the president didn't go on yet." And I went, "Oh s***,"' Johnson admitted during the podcast interview.
The Timeline of Events
The sequence of events on that historic evening reveals just how close Johnson's tweet was to being the first public announcement. At 9:45pm EDT on May 1, 2011, the White House announced that the President would address the nation later that evening.
The first public leak came from Navy Reserve intelligence officer Keith Urbahn at 10:24:05pm. Remarkably, just 47 seconds later, Johnson published his now-famous tweet. While it remains unclear if these two events were connected, the timing demonstrates how information spread rapidly through unofficial channels.
President Obama eventually confirmed the news in a televised speech, stating: 'Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.'
Political Aspirations and Future Plans
The revelation comes amid ongoing speculation about Johnson's potential political ambitions. During the same podcast interview, Feinberg questioned the actor about rumours that both major political parties had approached him about running for president in 2022.
When asked if he might entertain a presidential run in the future, particularly given that his television series Young Rock depicted him running in 2032, Johnson intriguingly declined to answer, saying: 'Brother, you've asked a lot of great questions. Let's ask another one.'
Meanwhile, the actor is generating Oscar buzz for his portrayal of MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the sports drama The Smashing Machine, released earlier this month alongside co-star Emily Blunt.
This isn't the first time Johnson has been pressed about the identity of his mysterious source. Back in 2012, he told Moviefone via Politico: 'If I tell you that, I won't have to "kill" you, but I'll have to behead you -- no, I got my sources. I got friends in high places and low places.'
