In a surprising revelation on a popular podcast, global superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson recounted the moment he accidentally broke one of the biggest news stories of the 21st century before the official announcement. The event in question was the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The Accidental Leak
During a live recording of "Awards Chatter" at Chapman University, moderated by The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg, Johnson detailed the sequence of events from May 1, 2011. He explained that he received a phone call from a source, whom he has previously described as a "friend of a friend" or "friends in high places," informing him of the successful U.S. operation.
"I got a call, and the call was like, 'Hey, this thing happened,'" Johnson told the audience. He was explicitly told that President Barack Obama would be making a formal televised address to the nation in approximately 20 minutes from the East Room of the White House.
The Fateful Tweet
Believing the 20-minute window had passed, Johnson took to his social media platform. Around the 25-minute mark, he posted a message that sent the internet into a frenzy. While not explicitly naming bin Laden, the tweet strongly hinted at the monumental news.
His post teased, "Just got word that will shock the world - Land of the free…home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" This served as a powerful confirmation for the rampant speculation already swirling online about the subject of President Obama's unexpected late-night speech.
"Then I get a second call," Johnson continued, "And the call is, 'Yeah, the president didn't go on yet.' And I went, 'Oh, shit.'" The actor had jumped the gun, publishing the news before the Commander-in-Chief had the chance.
The Official Announcement
Despite the early leak from the Hollywood icon, President Obama proceeded with his historic address as planned. He formally announced to the world that the United States had conducted a targeted operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound," Obama stated. He confirmed that a small team of Americans carried out the mission with "extraordinary courage and capability," and that no Americans were harmed.
The president concluded the pivotal part of his speech by stating, "After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body." Johnson's story provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at a day that remains etched in modern history, showcasing how a moment of excitement led to a major pre-announcement from an unexpected source.
