John Cena confronted unsettling rumors about his death from COVID-19 during a January 2022 appearance on Barstool Sports’ podcast Pardon My Take. The false claim, which originally surfaced in August 2021, was quickly disproven but resurfaced in a viral clip that garnered over 3.5 million views on Twitter. When asked whether a small part of him wished to go along with the rumor, Cena responded with careful seriousness.
He questioned the purpose behind such a notion, asking,
“Where is the good in that?”
The hosts, Big Cat and PFT Commenter, suggested that the rumor might have brought fans together to celebrate Cena and share memories, but Cena expressed that he did not find the joke amusing.
Handling a Sensitive Topic with Honesty and Poise
Despite the awkward nature of the question, Cena responded with maturity, revealing that he had recently experienced a personal loss. He stated,
“I know you guys are trying to have some fun. I just lost a close friend two days ago,”
which caused the hosts to visibly regret their line of questioning.
He continued,
“No, no, that’s cool. So when I say something like that and take the smile off of your face, loss is a really tough thing. I don’t think, especially at this point or any point, the fragile nature of human life is a headline to grab. So, I know what you’re trying to do, I can’t fault you for trying,”
before adding,
“But in taking a moment to reflect on the passing of a close friend of mine, man I just see things from a completely different perspective. I don’t think that’s the right avenue for me to go down. I’m just saying in this case, right now, here. That’s just not a path I want to go down. I hear you, it’s just not a path I want to go down.”
Context Around Cena’s Interview and Recent Career Updates
This discussion occurred while Cena was promoting the premiere of the HBO Max series Peacemaker. Notably, the show’s creator, James Gunn, revealed that Cena was not originally the first choice for the title role, which was initially intended for Dave Bautista. Cena later shared his thoughts on this revelation during an interview with GQ, expressing an optimistic outlook on landing the part despite not being the initial pick.
Such experiences highlight the challenges Cena has faced recently, both professionally and personally, amid swirling rumors and public scrutiny surrounding his health and career.
In this interview, the hosts unintentionally make John Cena uncomfortable, and he sets boundaries in an honest and mature way. pic.twitter.com/33u7h6eEQE
— Stanley Graps (@stanleygraps) September 28, 2025
