Seiuli pays tribute to his Samoan roots, wins Generation Award

By Ivamere Nataro 19 June 2019, 12:00PM

Seiuli Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson walked away with the Generation Award at the 2019 MTV Movie and TV Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on Saturday.

Seiuli paid tribute to his island roots after walking out in style to Queen’s “We will rock you” to receive his award from host Zachary Levi. 

The Insider reports Seiuli acknowledging his family before advising his fans. 

"I have a house full of strong a-- women at home," said Seiuli to cheers from the crowd.

"Mainly, I want to thank the ones who make this who thing happen. I want to thank you, the people, the fans. I thank you.” 

He also took the opportunity to speak of what he learned since transitioning from a wrestler to Hollywood actor.

"The most powerful thing that we can be is ourselves," said Seiuli. 

"When I first got to Hollywood, they didn't know what the hell to do with me. I was this half Black, half Samoan, six-foot-four, 275-pound pro-wrestler."

"I was told at that time, 'Well, you've got to be a certain weight. You gotta drop some weight, you gotta be somebody different. You've got to stop calling yourself the Rock. What?"

Seiuli said this advice got him miserable for years, until he decided to stop. 

"So, I made a choice. I wasn't going to conform to Hollywood. Hollywood was going to conform to me,” Insider reports Seiuli said. 

"What you saw up here tonight, that's who I am," he said of his dance. 

"I'm proudly half Black and half Samoan and I wanted to bring those cultures up here for the world to see. Yes, it's important that you are your most authentic self."

Seiuli concluded his speech by “reminding fans that no matter how important someone may become in this world, it's more important to be nice”.

The Rock went from wrestler to movie and TV star in The Mummy Returns, Tooth Fairy, HBO's Ballers, and now the Fast & Furious franchise.

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Samoans abroad
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By Ivamere Nataro 19 June 2019, 12:00PM
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