John Cena says appearing naked at the Oscars was ‘really embarrassing’

John Cena recently shared his thoughts on his memorable and controversial appearance at the 2024 Oscars, where he took to the stage completely naked to present the award for Best Costume Design.

The former wrestler and Blockers star shocked audiences during the March ceremony when he stepped out onto the stage wearing nothing but a sheepish expression and using the winner’s envelope to cover his most private parts. “Costumes are… so important,” he sighed as part of a comedy skit. “Maybe the most important thing there is.”

Reflecting on the incident, Cena questioned the comedic value of the skit. In an interview with former NFL player Shannon Sharpe on his talk show Club Shay Shay, Cena recalled the sheer embarrassment of being naked in front of Hollywood’s elite. “I have the most decorated performers, producers, directors in one room, and I’m out there with my balls in the wind, with an index card covering my stuff like, ‘Hey guys, is this funny? Are we good?’” he recounted.

Cena continued, “I got all the people behind the camera, but then I walk out in front of a room of my peers, many of which I’ve never met because I haven’t worked my way up to meet [them].”

The Peacemaker star explained that the idea for the skit originated with the show’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. “Jimmy Kimmel called me personally and was like, ‘I need you to come to the Oscars,’” Cena shared. “And he’s like, ‘Just let me send you the bit.’ He sent it on paper and I called him back, like, ‘When do you need me there?’”

To maintain some level of modesty, nude tape was used to conceal Cena’s private areas. However, Cena admitted that this only added to his discomfort. “That was even more embarrassing,” he noted. “Going out there with a taped butthole? It’s tough.”

The reaction from fans was mixed. Some were stunned by his appearance, while others praised his dedication to the bit. “No matter what anyone says, John Cena COMMITS,” one fan wrote on X/Twitter. Another expressed their bewilderment: “WTF IS JOHN CENA DOING ??!?” Yet another chimed in, calling it, “Naked John Cena bit might be the greatest Oscar bit of all time.”

Ultimately, Cena made his way back on stage in a bronze toga-style costume to present the award to Poor Things, which won the Best Costume Design prize.

Source: Independent