At the 2024 Oscars, John Cena's nearly naked appearance on stage alongside host Jimmy Kimmel sparked intrigue and controversy.
In a recent revelation, Kimmel shared the differences they faced in bringing Cena's daring act to reality.
John Cena almost wasn't naked at the Oscars stage
The inclusion of John Cena's nearly naked appearance at the Oscars stage was a light-hearted tribute to a notable incident from the 1974 Academy Awards.
During that memorable ceremony, a streaker by the name of Robert Opel made headlines by dashing across the stage in the nude.
While some members of the audience found it amusing, others criticized the Oscars and John Cena for potentially exposing children to such content.
However, contrary to popular belief, Cena wasn't completely naked. Behind-the-scenes pictures revealed that the 46-year-old wrestler-turned-actor was actually wearing a loincloth to cover his private areas.
Kimmel faced resistance over Cena's nudity, and producers had to navigate regulations and viewer concerns.
Despite this, the criticism was not unexpected, as Kimmel himself faced resistance from social media users regarding Cena's nudity.
Kimmel confessed that ABC, the network broadcasting the Oscars, was initially hesitant to embrace the idea.
To comply with regulations and alleviate concerns about potential fines from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and viewer complaints, the producers had to navigate carefully.
The network requested a larger envelope for Cena to cover his 'private area'
One specific demand from the network was to make the envelope Cena was holding larger and more outstanding.
Kimmel humorously applauded Cena for pushing the envelope, both figuratively and literally, with his daring act.
Despite the challenges, they managed to hold a balance between Cena's playful appearance and following FCC guidelines.
Donald Trump criticized Kimmel's hosting style.
During the Oscars ceremony, Kimmel also took a moment to read a scathing review written by former President Donald Trump about his hosting skills.
Kimmel responded with a witty remark, adding a touch of political banter to the evening.
"Has there ever been a worse host than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars? His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be," the former president wrote.
"MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Donald Trump concluded.
