John Cena Goes ‘Streaking’ at the 2024 Oscars

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: John Cena visits SiriusXM Studios on February 21, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

While many celebrities at the 96th Annual Academy Awards were recognized for their gorgeous fashion choices on Sun., March 10, John Cena attracted attention for his very specific lack thereof.

About an hour into the awards show, host Jimmy Kimmel appeared to be teeing up a streaker when he reminded the audience that this year’s ceremony marks 50 years since photographer Robert Opel streaked across the stage as actor David Niven was introducing actress Elizabeth Taylor.

“Can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today?” Kimmel asked as the audience laughed. He paused briefly before repeating the question to more audience laughter. ”Wouldn’t that be crazy?”

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Cena’s head suddenly popped out around a piece of the stage's set positioned behind Kimmel and whispered to get his attention. When Kimmel reminded Cena, who was clearly not wearing a shirt, that he was supposed to dash naked across the stage, the professional wrestler and actor refused.

“I, uh, changed my mind,” Cena said. “I don’t want to do the streaker bit anymore.”

The actor, who played Mermaid Ken in 2023’s Barbie, explained that he doesn’t “feel right about it.”

“This is an elegant event, you know,” Cena explained. “Honestly, we should feel shame right now for suggesting such a tasteless idea.”

Brief chatter between Kimmel and Cena followed as the two debated whether the male body is “a joke”—“Mine is,” Kimmel told Cena—and whether wearing jorts is better or worse than appearing without anything on at all. Kimmel finally left the stage in mock frustration, insisting that Cena present the next award.

Cena hesitated before beginning to crab-walk across the stage, holding the envelope strategically as he revealed that he really wasn’t wearing any clothes.

When he made it to the center of the stage, Cena began to introduce the Best Costume Design category.

“Costumes, they are so important,” he said as the audience laughed. “Maybe the most important thing there is.”

Kimmel eventually returned to the stage to help Cena introduce the nominees so that he could keep the envelope in place. After the nominees were announced, it was revealed that Kimmel and Cena had worked quickly with an assist from a few people backstage to drape what looked like a rose-colored curtain around Cena toga-style. He was then able to confidently announce the category’s winner—Poor Things—and congratulate the film’s costume designers onstage.

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