Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson had a memorable evening Tuesday at the 2021 People's Choice Awards at the the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
The 49-year-old superstar was presented with the People's Champion award by Jeff Bezos, and dedicated the honors to the late Muhammad Ali and Shushana, a recipient for the Make-a-Wish foundation.
In introducing Johnson, Bezos, 57, said, 'His achievements are legend. His work ethic is unparalleled. He transcends all demographics. He is impossible not to like and he can sure put down a lot of pancakes.
'But even with all that, the thing that really stands out the most? He's kind … you see, kindness is a choice. And what I admire most in Dwayne is his choice to show unwavering kindness to everyone around him.'
'For those who may know or for those who may not know, the original people's champion was the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali,' the Red Notice star said. 'I first met Muhammed when I was a little boy and he was so cool to me. He was so kind and he was so funny. He was always wonderful to me.'
He recalled how he got permission to use the moniker from Ali's widow Lonnie Ali: 'She said, "He told me to tell you you are the people's champion, you have earned it, you take that title."
The wrestler-turned-actor, who was nicknamed the People's Champion during his time in the WWE, paid tribute to Ali, who died at 74 in June of 2016 +13
The wrestler-turned-actor, who was nicknamed the People's Champion during his time in the WWE, paid tribute to Ali, who died at 74 in June of 2016
Main man: Johnson dedicated the honors to the late Muhammad Ali; and Shushana, a recipient for the Make-a-Wish foundation +13
Johnson told the crowd, 'It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice' +13
Main man: Johnson dedicated the honors to the late Muhammad Ali; and Shushana, a recipient for the Make-a-Wish foundation
'Years later to be standing here with you guys, you voted me the People's Champion, the irony is not lost on me because I realize that what it means to be the People's Champion is so much bigger than me. You treat people good, you treat people kind. You take care of people. You're inclusive of people, all people, all colors, it doesn't matter.'
Johnson said that he last saw Ali 'at a Make-a-Wish event' where they 'were both granting wishes,' and that 'his last words to [him] were, "You keep rumbling.'''
Johnson then welcomed Shushana onto the stage, noting that her wish was to attend the award show, and presenting her with his trophy.
Congratulations: He said of Shusana, 'She is a fighter, she has inspired her family and friends'
'This is a total surprise,' he said. 'I met her earlier. I told her how proud I was of her story. She is a fighter, she has inspired her family and friends. I want to tell you just how much you've inspired me and everyone around you and certainly everyone here.
'I want to give you this because you represent everything that it means to be a People's Champion so this is for you.'
Johnson quoted Ali in saying, 'The service to others is the rent you pay for the room you have here on earth.'
Shushana thanked Johnson in accepting the honors and said, 'I didn't expect this at all.
'Thank you to Make-a-Wish in general. I just never expected that something this good could happen. This is crazy. I never thought that it could end up in this, survive something.'
Johnson wrapped up in saying, 'It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.'
SOURCE : dailymail
