Dwayne Johnson Accidentally Broke Osama Bin Laden News First
Dwayne Johnson’s early tweet about Osama announcement surprise. [Image Source: YIMG]
During a recent podcast interview, actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson revealed how he inadvertently announced the death of Osama bin Laden before the official statement from then-President Barack Obama. The incident happened in 2011 when Johnson received unconfirmed intelligence about the death of the al-Qaeda founder. This led to an early tweet that foreshadowed the historic announcement about the United States’ targeted operation against bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Details Behind the Premature Tweet
Johnson explained that the information came through a “friend of a friend,” whom he did not name, who informed him directly. He recalled the initial phone call:
“The call was like, ‘Hey, this thing happened,’”
Johnson said.
“And I said, ‘Okay, wonderful news.’ I was told on the call that the president at that time [Barack Obama] was going to make his speech in 20 minutes or whatever.”
Expecting the presidential announcement to air soon, Johnson waited, but when 25 minutes passed, he decided to share the news on social media.
He recounted,
“I said, ‘Okay, great.’ So 20 minutes go by, and at about the 25th minute, I tweet this. Then I get a second call, and the call is, ‘Yeah, the president didn’t go on yet.’ And I went, ‘Oh s—.’”
The Controversial Tweet and Official Address
Johnson’s tweet, posted on May 1, 2011, read:
“Just got word that will shock the world – Land of the free…home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
Later that night, around 11:35 p.m. EDT, President Barack Obama delivered a formal address from the White House, confirming that bin Laden had been killed during a raid conducted by a U.S. military team in Abbottabad. Obama stated,
“Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan,”
and further described the mission:
“A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.”
In later interviews, including one with Moviefone in 2012, Johnson remained tight-lipped about the identity of his source, balancing the weight of the information he had received. He joked,
Image of: Dwayne Johnson
“If I tell you that, I won’t have to ‘kill’ you, but I’ll have to behead you — no, I got my sources,”
and added,
“I got friends in high places and low places. It was a very interesting day. …The individuals who were there were proud to let me know.”
Reflecting on his decision to tweet, Johnson said,
“I knew the president was going to give his speech; I thought he was going to give it at a certain time and so I thought, I think it’s appropriate that I tweet ‘I’m damn proud to be an American’ and keep it in that space without giving away too much information.”
The Impact and Significance of the Early Announcement
Dwayne Johnson’s premature disclosure underlines the challenges of handling sensitive intelligence before official confirmation, especially when public figures have access to privileged information. While his tweet stirred anticipation, it also raised questions about confidentiality and timing during critical moments in U.S. history. This incident illuminates the tension between personal reactions and official communication channels in the age of social media.
As for Johnson, the episode remains a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes nature of breaking news linked to national security, highlighting the delicate balance between being informed and respecting formal announcements.
Just got word that will shock the world – Land of the free…home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!
