John Cena Doubles Down On Not Wanting Children – And His Explanation Is Quite Reasonable

The “Suicide Squad” actor also shared a poignant message for anyone out there who feels similarly.

John Cena is candid about why he has no desire to have children.

Appearing on a recent episode of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, the actor and wrestler didn’t hold back when asked to elaborate.

“I have a certain curiosity about life, and I also know the investment that it takes,” Cena told host Shannon Sharpe. “As somebody who’s driven, many times stubborn and selfish, I try to approach the world with kindness and curiosity … but I don’t think I’m personally ready, nor will I ever be, to invest the time [needed] to be a great parent.”

“I want to live life for all it is,” he continued. “I still have a lot to do.”

Cena also said he and his wife of nearly four years, Shay Shariatzadeh, have had “open conversations” about raising a family, and ultimately found they were “on the same page.”

“I can tell you this is not a knee-jerk reaction,” he explained.

Cena previously shared why he didn’t feel “qualified” to be a dad while appearing on “The Drew Barrymore Show” in 2022.

When Barrymore said Cena would make “the world’s greatest father” because of his temperament and dedication to philanthropy, the “Suicide Squad” star shrugged off the suggestion.

“I think just because you might be good at something, for me, is not a strong enough reason to do that,” he said. “You have to have a passion for it. You have to have a fuel for it.”

Still, Cena believes there was a major benefit to broaching the subject of parenting with Shariatzadeh early in their relationship.

“We both got to lean into these uncomfortable moments and address this stuff and now, we’ve actually built a foundation where, whenever one of us is feeling bothered, nothing’s off the table,” he told Sharpe. “We have our disagreements, but we handle them right then and there. And nothing is too uncomfortable to be unapproachable. … Those conversations have helped me, at least, personally, and her forge a path together as a team.”

Following his scene-stealing naked moment at the Oscars in March, Cena appeared in the Amazon Prime comedy “Jackpot!” and had a guest appearance in a Season 3 episode of “The Bear.”

He recently wrapped filming on the action comedy “Heads of State,” in which he co-stars along with Priyanka Chopra and Idris Elba.