John Cena streaks naked on the Oscars stage — with a strategically placed envelope

Jack Hobbs
·3 min read
Wrestling icon John Cena bared it all Sunday during the 2024 Oscars when he presented the award for Best Costume Design.
Wrestling icon John Cena bared it all Sunday during the 2024 Oscars when he presented the award for Best Costume Design.
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John Cena left us with little to imagine.

The former wrestler, 46, went nearly naked during the 2024 Oscars when he presented the award for Best Costume Design on Sunday.

Cena appeared when host Jimmy Kimmel recalled a moment during the 1974 Oscars when a streaker made his way on stage during the 47th Academy Awards while David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.

At that moment, Cena, 46, popped out from behind the elegant set and bleated that he did not want to proceed with the joke. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
At that moment, Cena, 46, popped out from behind the elegant set and bleated that he did not want to proceed with the joke. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Much to everyone’s shock — and delight — Cena ended up going through with the presentation while holding the envelope in front of his genitals, which appeared to be covered with a modesty garment. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Much to everyone’s shock — and delight — Cena ended up going through with the presentation while holding the envelope in front of his genitals, which appeared to be covered with a modesty garment. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

“Can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today?” Kimmel, 56, said in an obvious setup for the joke. “I said, can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today? Wouldn’t that be crazy?”

At that moment, Cena popped out from behind the elegant set and said he did not want to proceed with the skit.

“I changed my mind. I don’t want to do the streaker bit,” Cena told Kimmel. “I just don’t feel right about it. It’s an elegant event, you know, you should feel shame right now for suggesting such a tasteless joke.”

Kimmel then attempted to sway Cena by saying it was “supposed to be funny.”

“The male body is not a joke,” replied Cena in a fake tone of exasperation.

Much to everyone’s shock — and delight — Cena ended up going through with the presentation while strategically holding up an envelope to cover his lower region.

Cena managed to acquire a toga so that he could eventually present the award. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
Cena managed to acquire a toga so that he could eventually present the award. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP

After bemoaning that he couldn’t open the envelope without exposing himself, Cena put on a curtainlike golden toga before presenting the award to “Poor Things.”

Some social media users went wild for the “Barbie” star’s cameo.

“Bro I could not. I was cracking up,” laughed one person on X (formerly Twitter).

Cena later gave the award to “Poor Things.” Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Cena later gave the award to “Poor Things.” Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

“He was just trying to see if anyone could actually see him or not,” joked a second user.

“That took some balls … and good thing they aren’t any bigger or you’d be able to see them,” a third user laughed.

One user chimed in, “This will be the talk of the town come tomorrow beside the winners.”

Not everyone was thrilled with the stunt though.

“Not a good joke,” one annoyed viewer stated.

Another viewer posted a GIF of a woman looking extremely put off by the joke.

“Considering the recent disasters this show has endured, this was a real risk,” stated a third critic.