Dwayne Johnson did not expect a routine drive through Los Angeles to become internet fodder, but that is exactly what happened when he was pulled over by police for having illegally tinted windows on his vehicle. In California, window tint that exceeds legal limits constitutes a traffic violation, and Johnson found himself on the wrong side of that particular rule. The stop appeared to be uneventful and no serious consequences followed.
What did follow, however, was Kevin Hart.
Video of the traffic stop made its way into public view last week, and it did not take long for Hart to weigh in. Caught by paparazzi outside Miami’s Carbone Beach Club, the comedian was asked whether he had anything to do with the police showing up. His response was immediate, expletive-laced and entirely on brand. He played along with the absurdity of the suggestion with the kind of straight-faced delivery that has made him one of the most recognizable comedic voices in the industry.
Two friends with a long history of roasting each other
The exchange fits neatly into a well-established pattern between the two entertainers. Hart and Johnson have built one of Hollywood’s most entertaining off-screen friendships alongside their professional partnership, and trolling each other has become something of an unofficial hobby for both of them.
Over the years they have gone after each other through social media impressions, on-set pranks and public appearances where neither seems capable of passing up an opportunity to take a shot at the other. Johnson has been open about the fact that the friendship is genuine and that the two genuinely enjoy each other’s company, which makes the relentless ribbing land as affection rather than animosity.
Their chemistry has translated directly to the screen, and later this year audiences will get another installment of it when the two appear together in Jumanji: Open World, the fourth entry in the franchise and set to open in theaters on Christmas Day.
The roasting continued on set
The run-up to Jumanji: Open World has already produced its own share of behind-the-scenes comedy. During production, Johnson discovered that Hart had been filming him eating on set without his knowledge and had been providing running commentary on the footage. Johnson’s reaction was equal parts amused and exasperated, landing firmly in laughter rather than anything more serious.
In a separate moment captured on video, Hart found himself on the receiving end of a roast after complaining about the seating arrangements in a production vehicle. Johnson seized on the moment and Hart responded with a string of colorful language that summed up their dynamic better than any scripted exchange could.
These moments, small and unplanned as they are, have become part of what fans expect from the pair. Their willingness to let the cameras catch them being genuinely ridiculous with each other has added a layer of authenticity to a friendship that could easily read as a Hollywood publicity exercise.
What comes next
Johnson has not yet responded publicly to Hart’s claim that he was behind the police call, but given the history between the two, a response of some kind seems almost inevitable. The back-and-forth rarely ends with one person having the last word, and a traffic stop involving one of the biggest names in entertainment is exactly the kind of moment that tends to get a follow-up.
For now, Hart has the floor. And if the past is any indication, Johnson is already working on something.
