Oscars 2024 blasted as ‘desperate’ over naked John Cena stunt as ‘sexism’ row erupts over ‘double standards’
John Cena’s presenting gig at this year’s Oscars has sparked a rather divisive debate after he took to the stage “naked” to present one of this year’s awards.
In a night full of talking points, particularly involving host Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue, it was Cena’s sketch that arguably caught the eye the most.
As the ceremony got to the Best Costume Design category, Kimmel reminded viewers of a moment 50 years ago when David Niven was interrupted by a streaker at the 46th Academy Awards.
“Can you imagine if a nude man tried to run across the stage today?” Kimmel went on, clearly teeing up a sketch. “I said can you imagine if a nude man ran across the stage today? Wouldn’t that be crazy?”
“Psst. Jimmy, come here,” Cena could be heard saying from being one of the boards on stage.
“What’s going on? You’re supposed to run across the stage,” Kimmel went over and asked as the two pretended the sketch was going awry.
John Cena just walked on stage at the Oscar’s NAKED 😳
The degradation of men continues.
Weak men. Hard times. pic.twitter.com/854Qltrt2R
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 11, 2024
“I changed my mind I don’t want to do the streaker bit,” Cena replied to which Kimmel said: “What do you mean you don’t wanna do the streaker bit anymore?! We’re doing it!”
“I just don’t feel right about it. It’s an elegant event. You should be ashamed right now for suggesting such a tasteless idea,” Cena mocked, as Kimmel hit back: “It’s supposed to be funny.”
“The male body is not a joke,” Cena snapped back to which Kimmel prompted laughter as he answered: “Mine is.”
Soon after, Kimmel handed Cena the envelope before the wrestler awkwardly shuffled to the microphone while covering his crotch.
“Costumes…they are so important… maybe the most important thing there is. I can’t open the envelope without…” Cena added, prompting Kimmel to return to the stage to introduce the nominations.
The sketch went down well in the theatre with the star-studded attendees as well as several viewers watching at home.
However, there were plenty of viewers who weren’t impressed with Cena and Kimmel’s antics, with many pointing out that if Cena were a female, the joke may not work.
“Desperate for ratings I see… Imagine if this was a woman #Oscars,” one person fumed on X, formerly Twitter, before a second hit out: “Am i the only one who found that john cena act uncomfortable… like aside from the fact that i did not wish to see that on my tl, but imagine the horrors if a Woman pulled that stunt lol.”
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A third agreed: “John Cena walking naked for ‘best costume design’ at the Oscars, shows the sexist double standard of women laughing at a naked man, where men could NEVER laugh at a naked woman #Oscars2024.”
And a fourth fumed: “John Cena just walked on stage at the Oscar’s NAKED. The degradation of men continues. Weak men. Hard times.”
“Hollyweird living up to their name,” a fifth said of the Cena sketch but others were quick to defend the actor with one person arguing: “JOHN CENA IS SO UNSERIOUS FOR THIS BUT I LOVE IT !!! #Oscars.”
Elsewhere, during Sunday’s Oscars, host Kimmel also caused controversy with jokes about Robert Downey Jr’s past drug use and pulled no punches as he mocked Robert De Niro’s age gap with his girlfriend.