Olympic athlete or porn star? The internet is getting a kick out of the male divers who are getting accidentally “censored” during the TV broadcasts of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The men’s synchronized diving events began on Tuesday, August 8, and it’s safe to say the sport gained some new fans.
While the divers are clad in tiny Speedos, the unfortunate placement of the information bars (you know, those ones with their name, country and total scores) on the lower third of the screen made it appear that they were competing totally naked. And of course, their ripped bodies and six-packs made them look even more like adult-film professionals.
Many of the not-actually NSFW moments happened while the competitors were showering in between dives to stay warm. Since the athletes had no idea what was happening on TV screens around the world, they happily smiled, flashed thumbs-up and gave interviews while they appeared “nude.”
One Twitter user wrote, “Best part of the #Olympics #Diving? When the information bar makes them look naked #Rio2016 #OlympicGames,” while another added: “For a second, I thought maybe there was a Naked Olympics going on simultaneously with the regular Olympics.”
U.S. diver Steele Johnson, who took home a silver medal along with his partner, David Boudia, quickly became the subject of jokes for his name and the too hot to handle screenshots of the his censored bod.
See more of the pics and funniest reactions below:
It’s so weird for these Olympic divers to dive in the nude. Bravo to NBC figuring out a way to censor the nudity. pic.twitter.com/bisSgDZtsw
— Sean (@Seanye_West_32) August 9, 2016
Naked diving is an Olympic event now? pic.twitter.com/qMyF76XKXy
— Slacker (@TheRealSlacker) August 9, 2016
Showing shower footage of synchronized divers w/ripped bodies mostly naked is borderline pornographic. Observation not complaint. #Olympics
— staciespy (@staciespy) August 9, 2016
HIS NAME IS LITERALLY STEELE JOHNSON. COULD THIS BE ANY MORE NSFW. pic.twitter.com/uxFhJwlbLJ
— David Mack (@davidmackau) August 8, 2016
For a second, I thought maybe there was a Naked Olympics going on simultaneously with the regular Olympics pic.twitter.com/VSeRRGvn3m
— Jen LC (@RegressedPDO) August 9, 2016
I giggle every time the score bar goes across the screen & perfectly covers the diver’s waists. They look naked #IfOnly? #Rio2016??
— Joshua Matthew (@joshuamatthew0) August 9, 2016
Naked diving? Bonus points! #RioOlympics2016 pic.twitter.com/JSllCTLOws
— Heather Curtis (@Heather_Curtis_) August 8, 2016