John Cena Steals the 2024 Oscars with Naked Moment
John Cena provided the 2024 Oscars with one of the funniest and most unexpected moments of the ceremony by presenting Best Costume Design while naked.
Cena’s nude moment was part of a bit with host Jimmy Kimmel honoring the 50th anniversary of another infamous Oscars moment. During the 46th Oscars in 1974, a man streaked across the stage as host David Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.
This led to Niven’s classic ad-lib, “Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was almost bound to happen. But isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?”
Cut to 2024, and Kimmel playfully teasing another streaking moment, yet this one was planned. However, Cena got cold feet. As Kimmel was shouting his cue, Cena calls to the host from behind a piece of the stage.
“What’s going on? You’re supposed to run across the stage,” says Kimmel. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to do the streaker bit anymore,” replies Cena.
His reasoning behind “abandoning” the bit? “I just don’t feel right about it. This is an elegant event. Honestly, you should feel shame right now for suggesting such a tasteless idea,” said Cena
When Kimmel challenges Cena by saying, “You wrestle naked!”, Cena fires back, “I don’t wrestle naked! I wrestle in jorts!” Kimmel smartly replies, “Jorts are worse than naked!”
Finally, Cena is tasked with still going out on stage to aptly present Best Costume Design. After he shuffles on stage with the winner envelope across his nethers, Cena says, “Costumes…are so important. Maybe the most important thing there is.”
A naked John Cena and Jimmy Kimmel bicker on stage at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/1JYd5qth6F
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 11, 2024
![John Cena speaks onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.](https://96krock.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/GettyImages-2074439658.jpg)
It’s a good thing those envelopes are so big, amiright? Or…wait…maybe this was a bad thing? Either way, what a moment!
Of course, the actor/wrestler couldn’t present the Oscar without a little quick-change magic. This happened when the nominees were announced, and the stage went dark. When the lights came on, it appeared that Cena was wearing a curtain as a toga.
What you didn't see on TV: John Cena's quick change. pic.twitter.com/h9tXdZXd1g
— Vulture (@vulture) March 11, 2024
But Wait! Was John Cena Naked?
For those wondering if Cena was actually nude, a backstage photo shows he was wearing a modesty device. After all, the Oscars couldn’t have another “shortcomings” moment again.