Dwayne Johnson’s Daughter Faces Criticism and Stands Firm on Charlie Kirk Comments

The worlds of professional wrestling and politics collided this week when WWE star Ava Raine, daughter of Hollywood icon and wrestling legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, found herself at the center of a heated controversy. The 24-year-old performer, whose real name is Simone Johnson, faced intense backlash after posting remarks online that many critics interpreted as insensitive in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, 31, founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during a live debate event at Utah Valley University. According to investigators, the fatal shot was fired from a rooftop by an as-yet-unidentified gunman. The killing shocked the political world and reverberated across the nation, with tributes pouring in from Republican leaders, conservative commentators, and even political opponents. Many described the assassination as a devastating blow to civil discourse, regardless of one’s views on Kirk’s politics.

Just hours after the tragedy, Raine reposted a comedian’s quote on Instagram: “If you want people to have kind words when you pass, you should say kind things when you’re alive.” Although her post did not mention Kirk by name, the timing made the connection unmistakable. Later, she doubled down on Twitter, writing: “And I’ll stand behind this. Be kind, now more than ever.”

The reaction was swift and polarizing. Social media users accused Raine of callousness, claiming her words dismissed the grief of Kirk’s family and supporters. Hashtags demanding WWE terminate her contract began trending worldwide. Memes mocking Raine, as well as her father, spread across Twitter and Instagram, fueling the outrage. Some conservative commentators argued her comments exposed Hollywood and entertainment culture as hostile toward conservatives.

Supporters, however, pushed back. Many defended Raine’s remarks as a broader commentary on kindness and civility, not a direct attack on Kirk. They pointed to her choice not to name him as evidence she was speaking generally rather than celebrating his death. A number of fans also argued that her words, while poorly timed, underscored an important reminder in a moment of national division.

The controversy placed WWE in a particularly difficult position. The company, which has long sought to avoid becoming entangled in partisan disputes, has not issued an official statement. According to industry insiders, executives are monitoring the situation closely as they weigh reputational risks against potential debates over free speech and personal expression. WWE has dealt with similar storms in the past but faces unique pressure this time because of Raine’s high-profile lineage and the magnitude of the tragedy involved.

Raine is far from the only public figure caught in the fallout surrounding Kirk’s assassination. MSNBC abruptly cut ties with analyst Matthew Dowd after he was criticized for comments viewed as dismissive of Kirk’s legacy. The NFL’s Carolina Panthers dismissed a staffer for posting insensitive jokes online. Teachers in multiple states have been suspended following inflammatory remarks on social media. Together, these cases highlight the speed with which digital expressions—tweets, memes, or reposted quotes—can spiral into national controversies.

For Raine, the stakes are particularly high. As WWE’s first-ever fourth-generation wrestler, she carries the weight of a storied family legacy. Her grandfather, Rocky Johnson, was a trailblazing Black wrestling champion, and her father remains one of the most famous names in sports entertainment. In recent years, Raine had begun to establish herself as a promising talent in WWE’s developmental system, with fans eager to see her carry on the family tradition. Now, however, the uproar threatens to overshadow her career just as it was beginning to take off.

Whether WWE chooses to discipline Raine, or whether the backlash ultimately fades, remains to be seen. For now, the episode stands as a cautionary tale of the fragile line between personal expression and public accountability in the digital age. A single post, especially in the emotionally charged aftermath of a national tragedy, can be enough to ignite a firestorm.