Pluribus episode 6 brings in a wild cameo to explain everything about the Others
In the sixth episode of *Pluribus*, titled “HDP,” John Cena makes a bizarre and unexpected cameo that has viewers both intrigued and unsettled. In this episode, Cena plays a version of himself that is part of a global hive mind, having lost his individuality in the process. This unique take on Cena is marked by a surreal twist, as he delivers a video message to the character Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn) explaining the grim reality faced by the Others, a collective that has taken over the world. The episode takes a dark turn when Cena discusses the Others’ cannibalistic practices, revealing that they are mashing human body parts into milk cartons to survive. The reason for this horrifying dietary choice? The Others are incapable of harming any form of life, including plants, which severely limits their food sources on Earth.
As Cena elaborates, the Others rely on human corpses for sustenance, particularly those who die of natural causes, as they believe it would be wasteful to bury the bodies. This shocking revelation—that eight to twelve percent of the liquid in their milk cartons consists of Human-Derived Protein (HDP)—is presented with a mix of humor and horror. The Others attempt to rationalize their actions with charts and stock footage, but the underlying monstrosity of their invasion and now their cannibalism remains evident. Carol’s incredulous response highlights the absurdity of their situation, questioning why they can’t simply “pick a fucking apple.” Cena’s portrayal, filled with an eerie cheerfulness, adds a layer of dark comedy to the episode, making the bizarre premise even more memorable.
Cena’s appearance in *Pluribus* is part of a growing trend in 2025 where celebrities play exaggerated versions of themselves in various shows. While other series like Apple TV’s *The Studio* feature stars poking fun at their public personas, Cena’s role stands out for its sheer strangeness. The juxtaposition of a beloved figure like Cena discussing cannibalism and the consumption of processed human body parts raises the stakes for future celebrity cameos in television. As viewers continue to navigate this strange new landscape of entertainment, the bizarre yet thought-provoking themes presented in *Pluribus* challenge our perceptions of morality and survival in a world turned upside down. With new episodes streaming every Friday, fans are left eagerly anticipating what other surreal twists the series may unfold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W32EcEAZ2w
If you had ”
John Cena
calmly explains cannibalism” on your 2025 bingo card, congratulations!
Pluribus
has made all your hyper-specific dreams come true. (Side note: Are you okay?)
That’s because Cena makes a cameo in
Pluribus
‘ sixth episode, titled “HDP.” He plays himself… kind of. This version of Cena isn’t really a wrestler or an actor. Instead, he’s a member of the global hive mind that’s taken over the world. He’s lost all individuality, but on the bright side, this means everyone in the hive mind has Cena’s memories of filming
Peacemaker
‘s opening dance intro, and that’s fun, right?
SEE ALSO:
‘Pluribus’ episode 6: What did Carol find in the warehouse?
Cena appears in a video message to Carol (Rhea Seehorn) from the Others, bursting into
Pluribus
in such a surprising manner I wondered if I’d stumbled on an unexpected John Cena meme compilation from 2015. Seriously, I half expected to hear the trumpets from his entrance theme blaring once he started talking.
But there’s no time for memes here.
Pluribus
‘ Cena has something serious to tell Carol about: cannibalism.
In Cena’s video message, he explains why the
Others have turned to cannibalism
and are mashing human body parts into their little milk cartons. The answer? They need to in order to survive.
See, the Others are unable to harm or kill any form of life, including plants. That means their food sources on Earth are limited. They can use the millions of tons of food that were processed before their arrival, but even that’s not enough to curb the caloric deficit facing the billions of members of the hive mind.
SEE ALSO:
‘Pluribus’ episode 6 reveals something huge about the virus
The solution? Adding human corpses to their diet. For the Others, anyone who dies of natural causes becomes part of their food source. Why bury a body and waste all that meat?
Because of this, eight to 12 percent of the liquid in the Others’ milk cartons is made up of Human-Derived Protein (HDP). Do the Others really want to eat this? No way, Hive Mind Cena tells Carol. They’ll also never force Carol to partake in HDP under any circumstances. Reassuring!
The Others present the cannibalism as efficient and logical, with the video message featuring helpful charts, stock footage, and many,
many
wipe transitions. (Which member of the hive mind was Cena’s video editor? Was it Cena himself, tapping into other members’ memories of using iMovie?) But their affable spokesman can’t deny the truth: This is monstrous, just like their invasion. The Others may try to treat it like it’s just an unfortunate part of life, but the fact remains that they haven’t just desecrated human minds by taking them over. Now, they’re desecrating bodies, too. All because they can’t, as Carol points out, “pick a fucking apple.”
As harrowing as the HDP twist is, it’s undeniably fun to watch Cena channel the cheery helpfulness of the Others. The line “We’re John Cena” alone had me cackling, both because it’s funny, and because I was so weirded out that cackling seemed like the best reaction.
With this appearance, Cena joins a crowded landscape of celebrities playing themselves on TV in 2025. Apple TV’s own
The Studio
is crammed with actors and directors poking fun at themselves, while new comedies like
Overcompensating
,
Adults
,
and
I Love LA
roped in the likes of
Charli XCX
, Julia Fox, Quenlin Blackwell, and Elijah Wood to play heightened versions of themselves.
But when it comes to sheer strangeness, you really can’t top alien virus hive mind John Cena explaining why drinking processed human body parts from a milk carton isn’t just okay, it’s necessary. The bar’s been set pretty high, so if your next celebrity cameo doesn’t feature at least one
Soylent Green
reference, take it back to the drawing board!
Pluribus
is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday
