Honestly, the internet has a very long memory. You’d think after years of playing the most wholesome, shield-wielding superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans would be immune to the "thirst-trap" cycle of social media. But then came the summer of 2025, and suddenly, everyone forgot about Captain America’s moral compass and started talking about a piece of athletic gear instead.
We are talking about the Chris Evans jock strap moment that basically reset the celebrity news cycle overnight.
It wasn't an accident this time. Unlike the infamous 2020 camera roll slip-up—which we’ll get into later because it’s important context—this was a deliberate, chaotic, and frankly hilarious character choice for a movie called Honey Don't!. If you haven't seen the clips circulating on X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok, you’ve probably seen the memes.
The Scene That Launched a Thousand Tweets
So, what actually happened? In August 2025, Ethan Coen’s dark comedy Honey Don't! hit theaters and later Peacock. Chris Evans plays a character named Reverend Drew Devlin. Now, when you hear "Reverend," you probably think of Sunday service and starchy collars.
Devlin is not that kind of Reverend.
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He’s a cult leader. He’s intense. And apparently, he’s very comfortable in his own skin. There is a specific, high-energy scene where Evans appears wearing nothing but a white jockstrap. No shirt, no shield, just pure, unadulterated cult-leader energy.
A fan account on X, @CevansContents, posted a gif of the moment, and it racked up over 14 million views in a matter of days. People weren't just watching it; they were analyzing it like it was a Zapruder film. Why was he wearing it? How did it fit? Was this the "fan service" we all secretly wanted after a decade of him being buttoned up in tactical gear?
The reaction was a mix of "Oh my god, Cap!" and genuine appreciation for the actor's willingness to look absolutely ridiculous for a role.
Why This Hit Different Than the 2020 Leak
You can't talk about the Chris Evans jock strap frenzy without acknowledging the "teachable moment" from September 2020. Back then, Evans accidentally shared a screen recording of his iPhone gallery on his Instagram Story. For a split second at the end of the video, a photo of a man’s private parts was visible in his camera roll.
The internet went nuclear.
But something interesting happened. Instead of the usual "shaming" that typically follows a celebrity leak, his fans did something rare: they flooded the hashtags with pictures of his dog, Dodger, to bury the explicit image. They protected him.
When Evans finally broke his silence, he didn't hide. He tweeted, "Now that I have your attention... VOTE Nov 3rd!!!" It was a masterclass in PR recovery.
Fast forward to 2025, and the jockstrap scene felt like Evans was finally in on the joke. He wasn't the victim of a tech glitch; he was an actor making a bold, semi-nude choice for a Coen brothers movie. It felt like a "full circle" moment for the guy who once spent a good portion of Not Another Teen Movie (2001) covered in whipped cream.
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The "Honey Don't!" Performance
Let’s be real: Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke knew exactly what they were doing. Casting the man once voted "Sexiest Man Alive" as a cult leader who struts around in minimal clothing is a specific kind of cinematic trolling.
Honey Don't! is a weird movie. It stars Margaret Qualley as a private investigator and Aubrey Plaza as a cop. It’s got that signature Coen dark humor. But the Reverend Drew Devlin character allows Evans to lean into a side of himself we rarely see—the "weird guy."
Fans on Reddit have been debating the "aesthetic" of the jockstrap choice. Some users pointed out that it wasn't a "fashion" jockstrap (the kind you might see in a photoshoot) but a functional, standard-issue one that looked intentionally unflattering to fit the character's ego.
One Reddit user, bendelabvcky, put it best: "I'm so used to giving and now I get to receive."
The Double Standard Conversation
Beneath the thirsty comments and the 14 million views, there’s a real conversation happening about celebrity privacy. When the 2020 leak happened, stars like Kat Dennings pointed out the double standard: when women have photos leaked, they are often shamed and blamed. When it happened to Evans, he was shielded and cheered.
The 2025 jockstrap moment is different because it’s consensual media. Evans chose to film this. He chose the wardrobe. He chose to let the world see him this way.
It’s a shift in how he handles his own image. In his 40s, Evans seems less concerned with being the "perfect" superhero and more interested in being a character actor who happens to have a high-profile physique.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you are following this story or trying to understand the "viral-ness" of the Chris Evans jock strap moment, here is the takeaway:
- Context is King: The reason this went viral wasn't just the nudity; it was the contrast between his "Captain America" persona and this "Cult Leader" reality.
- Humor Wins: Evans has consistently handled "scandalous" or "thirst" moments with humor. If you're a public figure, leaning into the joke is almost always better than hiding from it.
- Check Your Source: If you're looking for the clip, it's officially available via Peacock or the movie Honey Don't!. Avoid clicking on suspicious "leak" links that might lead to malware or non-consensual content.
The "Summer of the Jockstrap" might be over, but the way Chris Evans transitioned from an accidental leak in 2020 to a deliberate, viral film moment in 2025 tells us everything we need to know about his career trajectory. He's not just a Marvel star; he's someone who knows exactly how to keep the internet's attention—on his own terms.
To see the performance in its full, bizarre context, you can currently stream Honey Don't! on Peacock or purchase it on major VOD platforms. It's a reminder that sometimes, the best way to handle being a sex symbol is to just make it part of the performance.