See the Funniest the Rock Memes Flooding the Internet After First Look at His Moana Wig
Rather than letting public criticism derail promotion, Johnson responded with his characteristic media savvy. Speaking on the online reaction, the actor remarked that "the internet did the internet," noting that he laughed uncontrollably when his friends and team started sending him the most absurd mockups. By validating the humor instead of issuing defensive PR spin, Johnson defused potential negativity into harmless publicity.
The film's creative leadership quickly backed up the creative choice. Director Thomas Kail publicly defended the styling decisions, praising the craftsmanship that went into building Maui's locks. Kail emphasized that honoring the spirit of the character required embracing Maui's larger-than-life physical presence, including hair that commanded attention on screen. While social feeds turned the look into punchlines, the production team maintained that once audiences see the hair in motion alongside the musical numbers, the look will fit naturally into the story.