John Cena's subtle streak trick saved risque Oscars stunt from disaster

11 March 2024 , 14:48

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John Cena presented the Best Costume Design prize fully naked (Image: Variety via Getty Images)

John Cena left little to the imagination as he presented the Best Costume Design prize at Sunday night's Academy Awards.

The professional WWE wrestler walked out on stage fully naked, covering up his modesty with the nominee envelope. His side-splitting stunt went down a treat on the night, but now experts say things could have gone horribly wrong for John.

With a slim margin for error, body language expert Judi James tells The Mirror that it was more than Cena's private parts that could have been exposed. He risked the gag "falling flat", but luckily proved himself as a pure Hollywood natural, according to Judi.

READ MORE: Here's how John Cena stripped naked as Jimmy Kimmel steps in to help

He somehow hid his modesty using a small card (AFP via Getty Images)

"This on-stage streak could have fallen flat as a gag if it hadn’t been for John Cena’s body language as he did it," the behavioural expert explained. "The card was held shockingly low and at first it looked like an homage to the Murder On The Dancefloor scene from Saltburn but it’s clear now that Cena’s modesty was kept intact thanks to some kind of modesty cover," Judi said, analysing pictures from the glitzy ceremony.

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Revealing John's secret, she concluded: "It's the wary crouching, the tentative sideways crab walk and the deadpan, comedy facial expression that make this appearance work so well. One small grin and the magic would have been broken."

During the skit, John pretended to be wary, hiding backstage as he spoke to host Jimmy Kimmel. John nervously got on stage where padding was spotted behind his card to ensure there wouldn't be any awkward wardrobe blunders live on television.

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The lights went down and he changed into a gold outfit (Getty Images)

Now, a video posted by Hollywood Reporter writer Chris Gardner showed how a team of people were able to redress the wrestler while a nomination reel played. It showed how the lights dimmed in the Dolby Theatre as four people ran out into the darkness to help.

Standing nearby was Jimmy, who helped fasten the curtain like material together. The lights came up and John stood in a gold toga-like outfit as he announced the Best Costume Design winner as Poor Things designer, Holly Waddington. Other nominees included Jacqueline Durran for Barbie; Jacqueline West for Killers of the Flower Moon; Janty Yates and Dave Crossman for Napoleon; and Ellen Mirojnick for Oppenheimer.

Harry Rutter