John Cena Goes Nearly Nude While Presenting at the Oscars

John Cena may have not run across the 2024 Oscars stage nude Sunday, but he certainly did awkwardly walk to present the award for best costume design.

Jimmy Kimmel initially kicked off the bit by asking, “Can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today? Wouldn’t that be crazy?” The host was referencing when Robert Opel infamously streaked during the 46th Academy Awards in 1974.

Cena proceeded to pop his head out from backstage to inform Kimmel, “I changed my mind. I don’t want to do the streaker bit anymore. … You should feel ashamed right now for suggesting such a tasteless idea.”

“It’s supposed to be funny,” Kimmel responded before Cena quipped, “The male body is not a joke.” But the host added, “Mine is.”

As Kimmel continued to push Cena to streak across the stage, he reminded the WWE star, “You wrestle naked. Why not?” But Cena quickly corrected him, “I don’t wrestle naked. I wrestle in jorts!” The host responded, “Jorts are worse than naked.”

Kimmel finally gave up and told Cena to just go present the Academy Award for best costume design, which ultimately went to Poor Things (Holly Waddington). The Ricky Stanicky actor proceeded to awkwardly walk across the stage to the microphone with no clothes on, with the winner’s envelope covering his frontal area.

After stumbling over his words a bit, Kimmel came back out to announce the nominees, which also included Barbie (Jacqueline Durran), Killers of the Flower Moon (Jacqueline West), Napoleon (Janty Yates and Dave Crossman) and Oppenheimer (Ellen Mirojnick).

Eyes on the stage from inside the room, including from The Hollywood Reporter‘s staff (see above), that were quickly shared on Twitter confirmed that Cena wasn’t completely nude, but rather wearing a flesh-colored sling. He was also given a drape to cover up during Waddington’s acceptance speech.

The 96th Academy Awards were held on March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Find the full winners list here, and check out the Oscars red carpet arrivals.