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Jack Johnson on the Injury, Chris Rock Warning, and Shark Attack That Shaped ‘SURFILMUSIC’

Jack Johnson reflects on how a surfing injury, a warning from Chris Rock, and a deadly shark attack influenced his ‘SURFILMUSIC’ documentary. Chris Rock’s cynical advice about show business proved wrong for Johnson, who appeared on David Le

Variety Music·May 15, 2026·via Variety Music

Jack Johnson on the Injury, Chris Rock Warning, and Shark Attack That Shaped ‘SURFILMUSIC’

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May 15, 2026 1:09pm PT

Jack Johnson on How a Surfing Injury, Warning From Chris Rock and Deadly Shark Attack Shaped ‘SURFILMUSIC’ Documentary (EXCLUSIVE)

By Antonio Ferme

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Antonio Ferme

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Chris Rock had it all wrong, as it turned out, when he once laid some cynical conventional wisdom about show business on Jack Johnson .

In December 2003, a 28-year-old Johnson found his way onto “The Late Show with David Letterman.” A few years prior, the Oahu native had been chasing a future as a professional surfer; now he was a bona fide music star whose second album, “On and On,” had just crashed into the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Waiting backstage with Johnson were his wife, Kim Baker, and best friend, Emmett Malloy , where they shared a memorable encounter with Rock.