The 82nd Golden Globe Awards host, Nikki Glaser faced backlash for a controversial joke about Diddy during her opening monologue, per independent.co.uk. Glaser, making history as the first female host in the ceremony’s 82-year run, delivered the questionable quip while addressing Zendaya about her performances in Dune and Challengers.
The joke, which referenced Diddy’s recent legal troubles and made light of serious allegations, drew audible groans from the star-studded audience. Glaser attempted to pivot from the uncomfortable moment with a follow-up joke about Stanley Tucci, but the damage was already done. The reference touched on sensitive subject matter, as Diddy faces serious federal charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, all of which he denies.
Social media quickly lit up with criticism, with viewers calling the joke “gross” and “disgusting.” Many questioned the judgement of including such material in the ceremony’s opening moments. Despite the controversy, Glaser’s overall performance as host received generally positive reviews, with most of her other jokes landing successfully with both the in-person audience and viewers at home.
The incident occurred during an otherwise successful ceremony that saw major wins for Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist and the TV series Shōgun. Notable moments included Selena Gomez’s gracious reaction to losing to Zoe Saldaña and Demi Moore’s emotional acceptance speech for her role in The Substance.
Glaser had previously expressed excitement about hosting, citing inspiration from previous hosts like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Ricky Gervais. However, this particular moment served as a reminder of the delicate balance required when addressing controversial topics at high-profile entertainment events.
