When news broke that John Cena and Nikki Bella were splitting up after six years together, people likely assumed the reason was Cena’s budding movie career, the public perception of not wanting a wife and kids and some of the quirks he’s demonstrated on programs like Total Divas and Total Bellas showing him as tricky to live with. It’s a reputation Cena seems hesitantly willing to accept.

This is not say Cena likes being portrayed as a bad guy or that he necessarily agrees with the mass of fans saying he’s bailing, but in a recent tweet, Cena explained that sometimes you have to be willing to accept the burden to protect others you don’t want hit with the same shaming stick.

Related: John Cena & Nikki Bella Breakup: Best Theories On What Happened

What’s interesting about this tweet is the tone it takes. Clearly Cena is suggesting he’s willing to take all the criticism to protect Nikki but there’s an underlying tone about the message that suggests he’s making sure people know it’s not actually or solely his fault things have gotten to the point of a breakup.

By saying he “bares the burden” is he saying ‘hey, this isn’t actually me who wanted this but whatever guys’ or ‘think what you want about me but she’s clearly to blame for this as well’? There are a number of ways to take this statement and people will read into it what they will. Some have said she knew what she was getting into while others think she’s being shamelessly dumped.

His social media account has been consistently vague since the mutual announcement but there were reports Nikki was devastated, most of the accounts making Cena out to be the bad guy who bailed realizing he didn’t want what he said he did for Nikki’s sake.

Perhaps these tweets are Cena doing damage control but it doesn’t sound like there’s much happening in terms of a reconciliation. He seems to understand it’s over and just a matter of getting through the rough times, leave everyone a little less scarred by the end result and move on with his life.