New Zealand’s own KJ Apa is back on screen—and this time, he’s traded Riverdale High for festive flight chaos and shirtless holiday cheer.
The 27-year-old actor, best known for his role as Archie Andrews on the hit CW series Riverdale, has made a surprise cameo in the new holiday flick A Very Jonas Christmas Movie—and fans are losing it.
In the film, Apa plays the ex-boyfriend of Billie Lourd’s character, who unexpectedly boards a Jonas Brothers flight from Germany to New York. Of course, true to holiday rom-com tradition, things get delightfully chaotic.
And yes, he strips down mid-flight.
Shirtless Scene Sends the Internet Spinning
OH KJ APA… pic.twitter.com/9JW0Hz2K4A
— ✰ (@MENin4K) November 16, 2025
In a now-viral scene, Apa—looking as shredded as ever—flexes his muscles at 35,000 feet, sending the internet into an early festive meltdown.
Social media lit up as fans praised the unexpected cameo and, let’s be honest, the gratuitous shirtless moment.
“KJ Apa showing up and taking his shirt off mid-flight?? Instant classic,” one fan tweeted.
“Not me rewinding that scene five times,” wrote another.
While A Very Jonas Christmas Movie was already generating buzz for featuring the Jonas Brothers in leading roles, KJ Apa’s brief but memorable appearance quickly became a highlight of the film—and possibly the season.
A Kiwi King of Christmas Cameos?
Apa, originally from Auckland, has long been a fan-favourite thanks to his charm, chiselled looks, and shirtless screen time in Riverdale. His appearance in this holiday movie seems to tick all the same boxes—with bonus festive flair.
Whether he’s breaking hearts in high school dramas or causing Christmas chaos in the skies, KJ Apa proves once again he’s got serious screen presence—and fans can’t get enough.
