- - Mario Lopez Strips Down to Teeny, Cheeky Underwear to Recreate His Viral 2012 Christmas Photo (Exclusive)

Daniela AvilaDecember 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM

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Courtney Lopez/X; Britt and Shayne Benton/The Range Photography

Mario Lopez in 2012 and 2025 -

Mario Lopez recreates his viral photo from 2012, where he's decorating his Christmas tree in cheeky red underwear, in this week's issue of PEOPLE

Speaking with PEOPLE, his wife Courtney Lopez shares the backstory for the 2012 photo

The Access Hollywood host also reflects on what he's most looking forward to this holiday season

Mario Lopez is having a cheeky start to the holiday season.

This year, during his family Christmas card photoshoot in mid-November, the Access Hollywood host stripped down to a pair of tiny red underwear to recreate a photo his wife Courtney Lopez posted to X in 2012.

At the time, Mario, 52, rocked red underwear and a black T-shirt as he stood on a ladder and decorated a Christmas tree. His daughter Gia, now 15, held his ankles for stability — and this time around, his youngest son Santino, 6, stepped up to the plate to steady dad.

My husband looks hot rockin his @RatedMOfficial with his little elf....#lovethem pic.twitter.com/QPkSmv7o

— Courtney Lopez (@courtneymlopez) December 7, 2012

"My husband looks hot rockin his @RatedMOfficial with his little elf....#lovethem," Courtney, 43, wrote at the time.

Speaking with PEOPLE at their home in Los Angeles for this weeks issue, Courtney explains the full backstory of the viral photo.

Britt and Shayne Benton/The Range Photography

Mario Lopez in November 2025

"I was decorating a tree at our old house, and [Gia] was there, I couldn't reach the star, so I asked Mario to do it, and she just [grabbed his legs] on her own," Courtney recalls.

Adding, "I happened to just have my camera, and I snapped that picture. The rest is history. It just went viral. We call it, at our radio show, the Lopezy."

This year, the TV host and actor has two holiday films airing on Great American Family. The first, The Christmas Spark (out now), pays homage to the firefighters who worked tirelessly to put out the L.A. wildfires earlier this year. The second, Chasing Christmas (out Dec. 21), stars his son Dominic, 12, and Mario serves as an executive producer.

As the year winds down, Mario tells PEOPLE he's most looking forward to spending quality time with his three kids and wife of 13 years.

"It's all about familia. Spending time together, drinking, eating, gambling, listening to music, watching movies and just checking out and focusing on what's important," he says. "Not worrying about all the other stuff, just locking in and being with each other."

As the son of parents who emigrated from Mexico, his favorite tradition remains the warmth of tamales — but he gives an honorary shoutout to his wife's Italian cooking: "I get the best of both worlds."

"I love this time of year because it's always tamales season. My grandmother, rest in peace, she started with tamales, and my mom continues the tradition, and my sister," he says. "The thing about tamales too, there's so many different kinds... you can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, incorporate them so you get a little thicker come the holidays."

Britt and Shayne Benton/The Range Photography

Mario Lopez and his family

With a busy schedule consisting of acting roles and hosting gigs throughout the year, Mario — who got his big break when he landed the role of A.C. Slater on Saved By the Bell in 1989 — is now redefining his idea of success.

For more on Mario, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, available on newsstands everywhere Friday.

"I'm healthy, my family's healthy, I already feel like I'm winning," Mario, who filmed a TikTok with Gia moments before the shoot, says. "I'm very fortunate to be able to do what I love to do as a living, so I couldn't ask for anything else."

"[My family] is what I work so hard for," he adds. "I'm very blessed to have a great wife and great, healthy kids. I love being at home."

The Christmas Spark is out now, while Chasing Christmas premieres Dec. 21, both on Great American Family.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”