The Rock’s unique dietary request stopped him from facing the heat on the popular YouTube series.
Dwayne Johnson, known for his larger-than-life persona, has been dodging the fiery challenge of Hot Ones despite receiving numerous invitations over the years. The popular YouTube series, hosted by Sean Evans, pits celebrity guests against increasingly spicy chicken wings while they field a barrage of thoughtful and quirky questions. But when it comes to The Rock, the wings have always been the problem.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Evans revealed that the 52-year-old actor and former wrestling star had almost appeared on the show, but with one very specific request. “We’ve been pitching [The Rock] obviously for years,” Evans said, adding that he had gotten close to securing the deal. Johnson, however, didn’t want to eat the traditional wings and instead requested grilled salmon strips.
“In my head I was like, that had to come from his mouth,” Evans laughed, explaining that Johnson’s dedication to his strict, protein-heavy diet likely fueled the unconventional request. Unfortunately for fans, negotiations fell through, and The Rock has yet to join the ranks of A-listers like Paul Rudd, Ariana Grande, and DJ Khaled, who have taken on the challenge.
Hot Ones, a show that bills itself as “the show with hot questions and even hotter wings,” has grown into a viral sensation since its inception, with Evans skillfully navigating interviews while both he and his guests sweat through some of the hottest sauces on the planet. The show’s appeal comes not only from the heat of the wings but also from Evans’ deep, insightful questions that often catch even the biggest stars off guard.
Despite missing out on a chance to host Johnson, Evans remains hopeful, sharing with PEOPLE in 2020 that radio icon Howard Stern would be his dream guest. “Will Howard be scorching on chicken wings for the Internet’s amusement? Knowing what I know about him, as a gambling man, I don’t know if that’s where the money is,” Evans joked.
As for Evans himself, while wings have become a professional hazard, he admits they’re not his go-to off the clock. “I’m just drinking juice and eating cereal and salads and stuff,” Evans shared with PEOPLE, revealing that after facing dozens of wings for the show, he prefers a simpler menu in his downtime.
For now, fans can only speculate whether Dwayne Johnson will ever take the Hot Ones stage—salmon strips and all—but until then, the legend of The Rock’s heat dodge lives on.
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