Dwayne Johnson gives his People's Champion Award to a Make-A-Wish teenager

Virgin Radio

9 Dec 2021, 12:53

He’s all about drive and power, and apparently, the people, as the WWE star decided to give his award to a Make-A-Wish recipient after meeting her at the ceremony. 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was anything but stone-hearted on Tuesday (7 December) when he was presented with the People’s Champion Award but decided to give it away. 

The award was presented to Johnson by Amazon’s controversial founder, Jeff Bezos, and he began his acceptance speech talking about the late Muhammad Ali. 

Quoting the legendary boxer, he said: “The service to others is the rent you pay for the room you have here on earth.”

He then went on to dedicate the award to Shushana, a young girl who was a recipient of the Make-A-Wish foundation.

On stage to the cheering crowd, he said: “This is a total surprise,

"I met her earlier. I told her how proud I was of her story. She is a fighter, she is a survivor, she has inspired her family and friends. I want to tell you just how much you've inspired me and everyone around you and certainly everyone here.

“I want to give you this because you represent everything that it means to be a People's Champion, so this is for you.”

Watch the full speech here:

Much to her surprise, Shushana was brought on stage and formally presented the award. 

The teenager was, of course, stunned to receive the award and said: "I didn't expect this at all.

"Thank you to Make-a-Wish in general. I just never expected that something this good could happen. This is crazy. I never thought that it could end up in this, survive something."

Johnson had initially won the award for his work ethic and kindness, and credited Muhammad Ali for inspiring him. 

Talking about the boxer, he said: "For those who may know or for those who may not know, the original people's champion was the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali.

"I first met Muhammed when I was a little boy, and he was so cool to me. He was so kind, and he was so funny. He was always wonderful to me."

He also revealed that he had got permission from Ali’s Widow Lonnie Ali to use the title, saying: “She said, 'He told me to tell you, you are the people's champion, you have earned it, you take that title.'"

Dwayne wasn’t the only big name to win at the annual awards ceremony.

Kim Kardashian took home the Fashion Icon Award, Christina Aguilera won the Music Icon Award and Halle Berry was titled People’s Icon of 2021.