Dwayne Johnson Opens Up on Divorce, Depression & Healing

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson recently opened up about the emotional challenges he faced during his divorce from ex-wife Dany Garcia. The couple, who were married for 16 years, separated in 2007. For Johnson, the split wasn’t just about ending a marriage but also about how it would affect their daughter, Simone, now 24.

“When you guys get married, you sign up for the long haul, but it doesn’t always work out like that,” Johnson said during a recent podcast interview. “It rocked me. And we had a baby, and I had to ask myself—what kind of father was I going to be?”

Mental Health and Career Choices

Johnson revealed that the divorce took a serious toll on his mental health, pushing him into a period of depression. “At that time, I was really going through it,” he shared.

The difficult phase also influenced his career direction. After the split, he intentionally chose lighter, family-friendly roles in films like The Game Plan and Tooth Fairy. “I didn’t want anything that was going to challenge me to rip my guts out,” he explained. “I wanted stories with happy endings—and I loved making those movies.”

Co-Parenting and Business Partnership

Despite the emotional upheaval, Johnson and Garcia maintained a strong co-parenting relationship. Beyond that, they continued as business partners, co-founding Seven Bucks Productions, which went on to become a major force in the Hollywood industry.

“While marriage wasn’t in our cards, we realized we were building something pretty cool,” Johnson once shared.

Today, Johnson is happily married to Lauren Hashian, with whom he shares two daughters—Jasmine and Tiana. His journey shows how personal struggles can pave the way for growth, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.