People’s Choice Awards: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson gives award to Make-a-Wish recipient

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was named the People’s Champion at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards – and immediately lived up to the title by giving his trophy to a Make-a-Wish recipient.

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According to People magazine and E! News, the heartwarming moment came Tuesday night at the annual awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California. After presenter Jeff Bezos introduced Johnson, praising his kindness, the “Red Notice” star immediately spoke about how the late Muhammad Ali was “the original people’s champion” and “the greatest of all time,” the outlets reported.

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“The last time I saw Muhammad, we were at a Make-a-Wish event, and we were both granting wishes,” Johnson said. “His last words to me were, ‘You keep rumbling.’”

Johnson then surprised a teen identified only as Shushana, a Make-a-Wish recipient, by calling her to the stage, E! reported.

>> People’s Choice Awards 2021: See the complete list of winners

“She is a survivor,” he said, according to People. “She has fought, literally, for her life. She has inspired her family, her friends, now you guys here, now the world that is watching.”

Showing her the award, he continued: “I want to tell you just how much you’ve inspired me and everyone around you – and certainly everyone here. But I want to give you this because you represent everything that it means to be a People’s Champion, so this is for you.”

The stunned teen thanked Johnson and Make-a-Wish, saying she “never expected that something this good could happen,” E! reported.

>> Watch the moment here

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Photos: People's Choice Awards 2021 red carpet Kim Kardashian West, Khloé Kardashian, and Kris Jenner, winners of the Reality Show of 2021 award for "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," pose during the 2021 People's Choice Awards held at Barker Hangar on December 7, 2021, in Santa Monica, California. (Christopher Polk/E! Entertainment/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

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