dress to kill

John Cena’s miniskirt makeover & Sam Smith’s latex bodysuit join forces to slay the internet to pieces

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John Cena and Sam Smith
credit: Getty Images

Since your social media feeds were most likely completely hijacked by Rihanna’s gag-worthy baby announcement Super Bowl concert, you might have missed the fashion armageddon that broke out over the stylistic choices of two non-football related celebrities over the weekend.

John Cena and Sam Smith are not two names that are often associated together, but their most recent fits have managed to rile up the online gen pop into varying degrees of outrage, allyship, and comedy.

First up on the cyber runway is professional wrestler turned action and comedy star John Cena. The 45-year-old has made a career of flaunting his bulging muscles in tight T-shirts and jean shorts in the WWE, but it’s a movie role that has him fully indulging in his feminine side.

Cena was spotted rocking a plaid miniskirt, thigh-high stockings and heeled boots on the Australian set of his new comedy Ricky Stanicky. We didn’t think he had it him!

The sight of what some may consider the epitome of masculine energy definitely made a lot of people feel a lot of different ways.

There were those that gave Cena two snaps up for challenging gender norms – even if it was just for a role.

While others chose to lean into toxic masculinity and shame him for simply wearing the outfit required for the scene at hand. You know, like actors are supposed to do.

“Is John Cena now a they/them or just enjoy humiliating himself?” tweeted formerU FC/MMA fighter Jake Shields.

The vitriol got so bad that one of Cena’s fan accounts had to speak out to counter the negativity. 

“The amount of angry men in my Instagram comments after seeing John wear a skirt and heels is very telling,” wrote JohnCenaCrews. “1. Stop projecting your fragile masculinity onto this man. 2. It’s for a movie, calm the f*ck down. 3. There’s nothing wrong with a man wearing a skirt and heels. Grow up.”

While Cena isn’t normally known for making headlines for his sartorial choices, Sam Smith has become quite known for their fearless lewks.

Related:  Sam Smith poses for their most raunchy fashion shoot yet and people are shook

Following scene-stealing outfits at The Grammys, in their “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” video, and a bondage-themed photo shoot, Smith once again stole the show at the Brit Awards on Saturday by hitting the red carpet in an inflatable latex bodysuit by London menswear designer Harri.

 

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A post shared by SAM SMITH (@samsmith)

The voluminous ensemble bordered on fetish wear and had many comparing it to balloon animals, a scene out of The Incredibles, and a Rorschach test, among other things.

 

Some even included sound effects to give it more, ahem, pop.

Others championed Smith for taking risks and being a galvanizing force.

Despite some of the jokes and the haters, the designer of the avant-garde outfit explained how their intent was to showcase the beauty of being one’s self.

“Sam was having a lot of hate comments recently after ‘Unholy’ about (their) body image,” Harri told the AP. “I wanted to create an image which people have never seen Sam in.” While that may be true, there really is a meme for everything!

Related: Category is: Capitol Hill eleganza! The fashion highs & lows from last night’s State of the Union

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