At the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, WWE star-turned-actor John Cena made his Oscars debut, exposing much more than audiences expected to see.
The “Peacemaker” and “Argylle” star made his presenting debut at the annual awards nearly naked to present the Oscar for costume design. Making a small reference to the player who stormed the stage at the 46th ceremony, host Jimmy Kimmel convinced Cena to bare it all. Well almost.
“What's happening? You're supposed to run across the stage,” Kimmel pressed the “Barbie” actor.
After stepping away from behind a large scene, Cena, wearing only an envelope over his parts and a pair of Birkenstock sandals, took center stage. Addressing the audience at the Dolby Theatre, she reminded them: “Costumes are important.”
“They're so important, maybe the most important thing there is,” he says, before telling Kimmel that he can't open the envelope covering his groin.
When the lights dimmed, members of the show's production team threw a curtain over the wrestling star. After the stage lit up, Kimmel was on his knees putting the finishing touches on Cena's new look.
“There you are beautiful,” Kimmel said, getting up from the ground.
Cena presented the Oscar to Holly Waddington, who designed the abstract costumes for Yorgos Lanthimos' “Poor Things.”
“'Poor Things' was a very unique opportunity to be really free and artistic in a creative process as a costume designer,” Waddington said, before thanking the stars and production team behind the film.
The 96th Academy Awards aired live on ABC from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. “Oppenheimer” was the big winner of the night, taking home seven awards, including best picture.
