John Cena Opens Up About Standing Up to Bullies to Protect His Gay Brother Growing Up

John Cena once shared a deeply personal story about protecting his older brother Steve, who is gay, from bullying during their childhood. Speaking on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the 46-year-old actor and former WWE star reflected on growing up with four brothers in a small Massachusetts town, where Steve faced challenges because of both his shy personality and his sexual orientation.

“Life was tough for my brother in high school. Not only was he an introvert and interested in computers, he’s also gay. And being gay in the 80s in a small town in Massachusetts, man, that’s an uphill climb,” Cena recalled.

Even though Steve, now 50, hadn’t come out in high school, he was still targeted for being a “true nerd.” Cena added, “He just had a lot of character traits that weren’t in the ‘cool kid’ group, and he’s also holding this secret that he can’t tell or talk to anybody about.”

Despite being younger, Cena said he felt a strong urge to protect his brother. “That sort of behavior started, like, at 10 years old for me. I don’t think I understood what was going on. Kids are harsh and they form cliques real fast,” he said.

The five Cena brothers lived in a rural area and mostly played sports together, giving them some independence from other kids. Cena explained, “There was enough of us to have a basketball team, which means we could do whatever we wanted. We didn’t feel we needed anyone else.”

As Cena entered middle school, he started noticing bullies outside their family circle and made it his mission to step in. “I took on the role of, ‘Hey, if you say something to the younger brothers, I will do my best to throw myself in harm’s way,’” he said. Cena also experienced teasing for being different, including for the music he liked and the people he associated with.

By age 12, he began lifting weights to build strength, and by 15, he had grown bigger than the seniors who used to intimidate him. When faced with confrontation, he chose to calm the situation rather than escalate it. “And for some reason — at 15 — I summoned up the situational awareness to be like, ‘Hey man, we’re good, don’t worry about it,’” he said. “Not only did he never pick on me again, I never really got f’ed with again in high school.”

Cena emphasized that he does not carry trauma from the bullying, and he regrets any participation in that culture. “I never was like f— ‘em. I never backed off,” he explained. He also credited his brothers for toughening him up.

The actor has long supported the LGBTQ community. In 2013, when WWE star Darren Young came out as gay, Cena expressed pride and encouragement. “My oldest brother is openly gay and coming from a family of five boys, that’s extremely tough to admit that and he’s openly accepted by our family,” Cena said. When asked if Young’s coming out would change things in the locker room, Cena was clear: “Not at all. Darren Young is a consummate professional, I’m actually proud of him for (coming out).”

Cena’s story offers a glimpse into his protective nature and his values, showing that his support for LGBTQ rights is personal and longstanding. It’s also a reminder that standing up for family can leave a lasting impact.

PCena’s story is both inspiring and important. It shows how kids can make a difference and how families can support each other through hard times. What do you think about John Cena’s efforts to defend his brother? Share your thoughts in the comments.