Amy Schumer has never been one to hold back when it comes to humor, especially when discussing some of her more outrageous on-set experiences. The comedian and actress, known for her candid and often provocative style, recently reflected on an unforgettable moment while filming Trainwreck alongside former WWE champion and Hollywood action star, John Cena.
Schumer, portraying the commitment-phobic and free-spirited character Amy in the 2015 romantic comedy, found herself in a passionate on-screen relationship with Cena’s character, Steven, a fitness-obsessed yet soft-hearted love interest. However, while their scripted romance was lighthearted and comedic, one particular scene has remained a topic of discussion for years.
The stand-up comic, never shy about pushing the boundaries of humor, once joked that Cena was “actually inside” her during their explicit bedroom scene. Though clearly meant as a comedic exaggeration, Schumer’s remark quickly gained traction, further fueling curiosity about the filming process of such an intimate—and hilariously awkward—moment.
Schumer’s First Impression of Cena: A Human Refrigerator
Before Trainwreck, John Cena was best known for dominating the wrestling ring with his powerhouse physique and larger-than-life persona. When the two were paired together for the film, Schumer was taken aback by Cena’s sheer size and muscular build.
Speaking about their on-screen intimacy, she humorously described the experience as feeling like “a refrigerator was on top of me.”
“It’s a whole other universe, that butt,” she once joked. “It’s not even human.”
Her lighthearted remarks didn’t stop there. She quipped that Cena probably had a tougher time filming the scene than she did, poking fun at herself by saying: “I just did what I always do during sex—just lay there.”
However, Schumer did admit to one unexpected regret about the experience, confessing that she wished she had gotten the chance to “feel his balls.” With her signature bluntness, she declared it a “major regret” that continues to haunt her.
Cena Describes the Scene as ‘Excruciatingly Awkward’
While Schumer found humor in the situation, Cena’s experience was slightly more uncomfortable.
In a 2015 interview with late-night host Conan O’Brien, the former wrestler turned Hollywood actor admitted that shooting the scene was far from sexy or passionate. Instead, he described it as “awkward” in every sense of the word.
Cena revealed that the film’s production team specifically instructed them to make the scene look as painfully uncomfortable as possible. “They wanted awkward, so we gave them awkward,” he said.
And awkward, it was.
Cena elaborated on the behind-the-scenes challenges during an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. According to him, the initial plan involved scripted dialogue, but as the film evolved, the decision was made to turn the moment into a full-fledged comedic spectacle.
“They were like, ‘Yeah, it’s a sex scene. We want you to do elaborate and crazy stunt sex,’” Cena recalled. “And all those lines you had? We’re probably not going to use them.”
Despite years of performing in front of live audiences as a professional wrestler, Cena admitted that nothing could have prepared him for the uncomfortable reality of simulating intimacy in front of an entire production crew.
The Unromantic Reality of Filming Love Scenes
To the untrained eye, Hollywood love scenes may appear sultry and seductive. However, as Cena candidly explained, the reality is anything but intimate.
“This is the thing,” he said during the interview. “People watching at home think it’s just us two in the moment, lost in passion. No. There’s a whole f***ing world back there.”
He went on to describe the sheer number of people present during filming.
“You’ve got catering over there, the sound tent right next to you, the boom operator literally standing over you with a microphone, and about 50 people just staring at you, waiting to call ‘cut.’”
As if that wasn’t enough, the film’s creative team had one simple yet difficult instruction: “Try to have the most awkward sex possible.”
“They wanted it to be weird,” Cena said. “So it’s not just awkward for me and Amy—it’s awkward for everyone on set. You’re sitting there, basically naked, and someone yells, ‘More awkward! Make it more weird!’”
He admitted that while he understands the comedic purpose behind the scene, it was a bizarre and highly embarrassing experience to go through.
“I don’t want to say it sucks,” he added, “but it’s just not what people think it is.”
Schumer Jokingly Responds: “John, How Dare You?”
Not one to let an opportunity for a joke slip by, Schumer later responded to Cena’s remarks in the most Amy Schumer way possible—through a cheeky Instagram video.
Posting a clip of herself lying in bed, she playfully addressed her former co-star, saying:
“John, how dare you? That sex scene meant a lot to me, and I was, like, very into it. And I’m in love with you.”
Her exaggerated reaction only added to the ongoing humor surrounding their on-screen romance.
Cena’s Then-Girlfriend Nikki Bella Had No Idea
While Cena may have been willing to throw himself into the scene, there was one person he neglected to inform—his then-girlfriend, WWE superstar Nikki Bella.
In a past interview, Cena admitted that he never discussed the scene with Bella before filming, a decision he later regretted.
“Nicole had every right to be upset,” he said. “I didn’t tell her about it beforehand. I never approached her with, ‘Hey, I’m going to be doing this thing in a movie.’”
Though he didn’t intend to keep it a secret, Cena acknowledged that he should have been more transparent about it from the start.
“Nicole had every right to be mad because I should have told her from the beginning,” he admitted.
Schumer Doubles Down on the Joke
The controversy surrounding the infamous scene only continued when Schumer, appearing on an Australian talk show, doubled down on her outrageous claim.
When asked how she managed to keep a straight face while filming the intimate moment, she cheekily responded:
“Because he was actually inside me. Who am I to stop him?”
Though obviously a joke, her comment left audiences in stitches.
Co-star Bill Hader, who was present for the interview, added fuel to the fire by chiming in with, “Wrestlers—they’re not faking! When they’re wrestlers, they don’t fake!”
Without missing a beat, Schumer responded, “It’s real.”
While audiences may never truly know how uncomfortable—or hilarious—the scene was to film, one thing remains clear: Schumer and Cena’s comedic chemistry continues to entertain audiences, even years after Trainwreck hit theaters.