Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson responds to Kiwi boy's powerful message about domestic violence

Publish Date
Wednesday, 2 December 2020, 3:00PM

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has responded to the Kiwi-Samoan boy who sent him a powerful message about spreading the word about violence against women last Wednesday.

Angelou Brown, who's only five-years-old, sent the Hollywood actor a message and a gift, in a bid to help spread an anti-violence message to men around the world as part of the She Is Not Your Rehab movement.

And just five days after the boy's video went viral, "The Rock" replied.

"Just watched and this one just sat me down. A bit emotional watching this 5-year-old little boy speak to me," the actor posted, alongside young Angelou's video.

"Angelou, it's Uncle Rock. Yes, I'm your 'uncle' because of course, all us Samoans are related," he began.

"I'm very proud of you, son. You don't understand yet, because you're too young but just know how courageous and inspiring you are to myself and our aiga (family), but now - to the world."

"The Rock" singled out the work the boy's father does with the "She is Not Your Rehab" group, as well as the boy's nana.

"I admire your father, greatly for standing up and creating @sheisnotyourrehab. And to make sure his mom - your Nana - will never be forgotten. Encouraging men all over the world to treat our women with respect, love and most importantly, violence-free," he said.

"The way you sit in your Nana's arms as she speaks to you is the exact same way I would sit in my grandma's arms when I was your age, while she said her prayers in Samoan to God, and then she'd talk to me afterwards just like she talks to you.

"She would tell me the exact same things your Nana is telling you. Listen to her. And always remember her words," the actor advises the boy.

"You stay strong, Angelou and keep listening to your Nana and your dad. One day you will become the leader of your aiga and also a leader the world will admire."

The actor said in a postscript that he is arranging with his staff to be connected to the Christchurch boy's family.

The video of Angelou was first posted online on the "She is Not Your Rehab" page last week.

In it, the boy addresses The Rock personally, sending him a shirt that says "She Is Not Your Rehab" and asking a favour from the "strongest man on the planet" to help spread awareness of how domestic violence is harming our women, families and communities.

The "She is Not Your Rehab" movement's ultimate goal is for "Aotearoa to become violence-free".

 

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.

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