Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was spotted in Venice over Labor Day weekend, but his usual muscular physique was absent. The change in appearance led fans to jokingly call him the “Pebble.” Shortly after a video of his slim figure went viral, Johnson was seen crying during a movie premiere.

At the Venice Film Festival on September 1, Johnson premiered his new biopic The Smashing Machine, where he portrayed former mixed martial artist Mark Kerr. The film also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples. Johnson received critical acclaim for his performance but appeared thinner than usual at the event. During a standing ovation, he was seen wiping away tears.

In a press conference, Johnson expressed his desire for roles that challenge him creatively. “I’ve been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and make the films that I’ve made,” he said. “But there was this voice inside of me… ‘What if? What if I could do more?’”

Earlier, controversial podcast host Joe Rogan accused Johnson of steroid use, citing his physical transformation. Rogan argued that Johnson’s physique in his 40s defied natural explanations and called for transparency. “There’s no f–king chance in hell he’s clean,” Rogan claimed, though no evidence was presented.