Johnny Knoxville, star of the reality show Jackass, revealed that two people nearly died during the filming of a particularly risky stunt.
The stunt, filmed for the documentary Jackass Number Two, was dubbed Big Red Rocket. In an interview with GQ, Knoxville explained how dangerous it truly was, revealing that two people almost lost their heads as a result.
Footage from the scene shows Knoxville counting down before the rocket is launched, with clouds of smoke pouring from the back. However, the rocket doesn’t go very far, making a small pathetic hop upward before quickly returning to the ground.
“I just remember being ecstatic that we had just got that footage. But it was a very crazy moment because a thirty-centimeter metal rod was fired.”
“Not only did it come close to my ribs, but it flew through the backyard and split two of our [art department] crew members right between the ears, Scott Manning and Mike Cassick. And it would have decapitated them, so a lot of people were lucky on set that day,” the actor said.
Quickly, social media users shared their thoughts on the stunt. “Wow, when the rocket exploded, I can’t believe they tried it again after that. The insurance on these productions must be insane,” commented a YouTube user.
“It’s a miracle he’s still alive today,” said another. “The Jackass franchise will truly be a unique piece of early 2000s history that I’ll always cherish,” stated a third internet user.
Photo and video: Instagram @johnnyknoxville. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
