From behind-the-scenes drama to interview insults, here’s everything to know about Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel’s feud since it began in 2016

Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel’s feud has been as turbulent as any action sequence in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Since 2016, countless reports of behind-the-scenes drama between Diesel and Johnson have followed the actors well beyond the filming of 2017’s The Fate of the Furious — the inception point of their longstanding contention. It was while shooting the eighth installment of the iconic series that the two men were rumored to have butted heads on more than one occasion.

So what caused these two A-list actors to fall out? What’s the backstory behind their so-called beef? And where do Diesel and Johnson stand today, on- and off-screen?

From conflicts behind the scenes to the various shots they’ve taken at each other during interviews, here’s a rundown of Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel’s feud.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Vin Diesel in 2011. BUDA MENDES/LATINCONTENT VIA GETTY

August 8, 2016: Dwayne Johnson calls out unnamed costars, hints at riff with Vin Diesel

On Aug. 8, 2016, Johnson shared a lengthy, now-deleted Instagram post in which he praised his female costars and Fate of the Furious crew but called out some of his male costars (albeit not by name).

“There’s no other franchise that gets my blood boiling more than this one,” Johnson wrote. “My female costars are always amazing and I love’em. My male costars, however, are a different story. Some conduct themselves as stand up men and true professionals, while others don’t.”

He added: “The ones that don’t are too chicken s— to do anything about it anyway. Candy a—-. When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I’m not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling — you’re right.”

According to TMZ, after sharing his post, Johnson and Diesel allegedly met up in an attempt to hash things out in private — though it was unclear at the time whether the two had made amends.

August 2016: Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel’s feud was “building up for months”

A source close to the production of The Fate of the Furious told PEOPLE the conflicts between Johnson and Diesel had been “building up for months” before Johnson’s Instagram call-out.

“Vin has been having problems with The Rock because The Rock keeps showing up late for production,” the insider explained. “Sometimes he doesn’t show up at all, and he’s delaying the production.” (Other sources recounted similar behavior from Diesel to The Hollywood Reporter and Page Six in 2015 and 2016, respectively.)

April 7, 2017: Vin Diesel addresses rumored beef with Dwayne Johnson

In April 2017, Diesel cleared the air about his conflicts with Johnson — and appeared to squash the rumored beef with his costar — in an interview with USA Today. “I don’t think the world really realizes how close we are, in a weird way,” he told the outlet.

“I think some things may be blown out of proportion. I don’t think that was his intention,” Diesel said. “I know he appreciates how much I work this franchise. In my house, he’s Uncle Dwayne.”

Diesel added that protecting the franchise extends to his relationship with Johnson.

“I protect the franchise. I protect everybody including Dwayne. I protected Dwayne more than he’ll ever know. And it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have to know. But he appreciates it. He knows it,” he said. “Dwayne has only got one Vin in his life. Dwayne Johnson only has one big brother in this film world and that’s me.”

June 2021: Vin Diesel admits showing Dwayne Johnson “tough love”

In a June 2021 interview with Men’s Health, Diesel admitted to using “tough love” on set when it came to Johnson’s portrayal of his Fast & Furious character, federal agent Luke Hobbs.

“It was a tough character to embody, the Hobbs character,” Diesel told the magazine. “My approach at the time was a lot of tough love to assist in getting that performance where it needed to be.”

He added: “I could give a lot of tough love. Not Felliniesque, but I would do anything I’d have to do in order to get performances in anything I’m producing.”

October 12, 2021: Dwayne Johnson responds to Vin Diesel’s “tough love” comment

Talking with Vanity Fair for the magazine’s November 2021 cover story, Johnson touched on Diesel’s “tough love” comments, telling the publication, “One part of me feels like there’s no way I would dignify any of that bull—- with an answer.”

“I’ve been around the block a lot of times. Unlike [Diesel], I did not come from the world of theater,” he added. “And, you know, I came up differently and was raised differently.”

Johnson continued: “And I came from a completely different culture and environment. And I go into every project giving it my all. And if I feel that there’s some things that need to be squared away and handled and taken care of, then I do it. And it’s just that simple. So when I read that, just like everybody else, I laughed. I laughed hard. We all laughed. And somewhere I’m sure Fellini is laughing too.”

The Red Notice star also opened up about the low-key meeting he had with Diesel in his trailer on the set of The Fate of the Furious following his 2016 Instagram post.

“I wouldn’t call it a peaceful meeting. I would call it a meeting of clarity,” Johnson told Vanity Fair. “He and I had a good chat in my trailer, and it was out of that chat that it really became just crystal clear that we are two separate ends of the spectrum. And agreed to leave it there.”

Johnson — who added that he and Diesel are “philosophically two different people” — also shot down some of his costar’s claims about their relationship, including his 2017 comment to USA Today, in which Diesel told the outlet he “protected Dwayne more than he’ll ever know” and called himself Johnson’s “big brother in the film world.”

Clapping back, Johnson said: “I have one big brother and it’s my half brother. And that’s it.”

July 21, 2021: Dwayne Johnson departs Fast & Furious franchise

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in July 2021, Johnson revealed he would not be returning to the main franchise and that his appearance in The Fate of the Furious would be his last.

“I’ve wished them well,” he told THR. “I wish them well on Fast 9. And I wish them the best of luck on Fast 10 and Fast 11 and the rest of the Fast & Furious movies they do that will be without me.”

November 7, 2021: Vin Diesel begs Dwayne Johnson to return to the Fast & Furious franchise

On Nov. 7, 2021, Diesel shared an Instagram post in which he implored Johnson to rejoin his Fast & Furious castmates for the series’ 10th film.

“My little brother Dwayne… the time has come,” Diesel wrote. “The world awaits the finale of Fast 10. As you know, my children refer to you as Uncle Dwayne in my house. There is not a holiday that goes by that they and you don’t send well wishes… but the time has come.”

December 2021: Dwayne Johnson calls out Vin Diesel’s “manipulation”

In a CNN interview published in December 2021, Johnson addressed an Instagram post that Diesel made a month prior in which he publicly asked Johnson to return to the hit movie series.

“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post,” Johnson told CNN. “This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly — and privately — that I would not be returning to the franchise.”

“I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return,” he said. “I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem.”

MARION CURTIS/STARPIX/SHUTTERSTOCK

Johnson also called the plea “an example” of Diesel’s “manipulation.”

“I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it,” he said. “We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding. My goal all along was to end my amazing journey with this incredible Fast & Furious franchise with gratitude and grace.”

Johnson concluded on the matter: “It’s unfortunate that this public dialogue has muddied the waters. Regardless, I’m confident in the Fast universe and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience, and I truly wish my former costars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter.”

May 2023: Dwayne Johnson makes a cameo in Fast X

In May 2023, Fast & Furious fans received the surprise of their lives when Johnson made a cameo appearance in a post-credits scene in 2023’s Fast X. For many, the gesture seemed to signal Johnson and Diesel’s ongoing feud had finally come to an end.

Apparently, it was director Louis Leterrier who facilitated the “peace treaty” between the two stars.

“We sort of looked at each other from across the room and winked a few months back, saying, ‘We should work together.’ And then I had this idea and I presented it to the producers and the studio,” Leterrier told The Hollywood Reporter.

He continued: “And then we reached out to Dwayne and his team, and said, ‘Just come and watch the movie. You have to love the movie first.’ So, he came to see the movie and really loved it, and then we started talking. It was very smooth.”

June 1, 2023: Dwayne Johnson officially returns to Fast & Furious franchise, announces Luke Hobbs spinoff

On June 1, 2023, the Black Adam star confirmed his return to the Fast & Furious franchise. “Yes, it is true. Hobbs is back,” Johnson said in an Instagram video.

Putting his past conflicts with Diesel to rest, he said: “Despite us having our differences, me and Vin, we’ve been like brothers for years, and despite our differences, when you lead with — number one, resolve — but also you think about the future and plans that are much bigger than ourselves.”

“Those bigger plans are the buildouts,” Johnson added. “They are the North Star.”

In addition to his reprisal as Luke Hobbs, Variety reported Johnson’s character would be getting his own standalone film, which he will co-produce alongside franchise screenwriter Chris Morgan. The spinoff will connect the events of Fast X and 2025’s Fast X: Part II, the franchise’s 12th film.