Oscars backstage pictures show whether John Cena was actually naked

John Cena caused quite a stir at the Oscars when he presented the Best Costume Design award completely naked - but it turns out there was more than met the eye.

On Sunday (10 March), Hollywood A-listers piled into the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to see the likes of Christopher Nolan win Best Director for Oppenheimer and Emma Stone scoop the Best Actress award for Poor Things at this year’s Oscars.

Elsewhere, Cillian Murphy earned his first gong for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer while Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Best Supporting Actress at the 96th Academy Awards.

Ahead of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things beating Barbie in the Best Costume Design category, John Cena, 46, took to the stage to present.

However, the Fast X star shocked both the LA audience and ITV viewers when he appeared to be fully naked.

He shuffled out onto the stage wearing nothing but a pair of brown Birkenstock sandals and an oversized envelope covering his groin.

Margot Robbie and Carrie Mulligan could be seen giggling as the professional wrestler received a raucous round of applause for his entrance.

Upon reaching centre stage, Cena jokingly cursed the costumes department before shaking his head.

“Costumes - they’re so important,” he said. “Maybe the most important thing there is. I can’t open the envelope.”

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel then headed on to the stage to ‘save’ the moment before announcing the contenders.

During the nominations reel, Cena underwent a quick change and donned a robe in time to announce that Holly Waddington would receive the statuette for her work on Poor Things.

Backstage photos reveal that at no point was Cena naked and that the hundreds of celebrities weren’t ever in danger of seeing more than they bargained for.

Behind-the-scenes snaps showed the professional wrestler wearing a nude-coloured undergarment - often known as a 'modesty' - which protected both Cena’s front and back.

Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images

Interestingly, this sort of streaking moment was a nod to an incident in 1974 when a naked man ran behind host David Niven as he introduced actor Elizabeth Taylor on stage.

The pair were supposed to be presenting the prestigious Best Picture prize to George Roy Hill’s The Sting when they were interrupted.

Following Cena’s display, fans have taken to social media to have their say on the nearly-naked moment.

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

One user of X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote: “Bro thinks we cannot see him or something.

“When you need attention you do drastic things,” commented a second. “Attention economy baby.”

Another user said: “Gross. Can we go back to the days of the Oscars being an elegant and respectful affair?”

“John Cena's impact on pop culture is undeniable,” said a fourth.