At a Glance
- Nikki Glaser roasted Leonardo DiCaprio for dating much younger women during her second consecutive Golden Globes hosting gig on January 11
- The 51-year-old actor laughed and nodded as Glaser joked about his girlfriend not yet turning 30
- Timothée Chalamet and Julia Roberts also received playful jabs during the Beverly Hilton ceremony
- Why it matters: The monologue sets the tone for awards season and signals which celebrities are fair game for public ribbing
Nikki Glaser returned to host the 2026 Golden Globe Awards and immediately zeroed in on Leonardo DiCaprio’s well-documented dating preferences. The comedian opened with a calculated jab that landed squarely on the three-time Golden Globe winner while he sat in the Beverly Hilton ballroom.
The DiCaprio Joke That Started It All
Glaser began with praise for DiCaprio’s nominated performance in “One Battle After Another,” calling it “insane, so vaping good.” She quickly pivoted to his personal life.
“What a career you’ve had,” Glaser said. “I mean, countless iconic performances, you’ve worked with every great director. You’ve won three Golden Globes, an Oscar.”
Then came the punchline: “And the most impressive thing is that you were able to accomplish all of that before your girlfriend turned 30. I mean, it’s just insane.”
The camera captured DiCaprio laughing and nodding in agreement, showing no visible discomfort with the well-worn observation about his dating history. The 51-year-old actor attended the ceremony without his 27-year-old girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, with whom he had recently vacationed in St. Barts.
The Anatomy of an Apology
Glaser immediately acknowledged the predictable nature of her material.
“Leo, I’m sorry I made that joke, it’s cheap, I tried not to,” she said, explaining her reasoning for targeting the actor. “But we don’t know anything else about you, man. There’s nothing else… I searched, the most in-depth interview you’ve ever given was in Teen Beat in 1991. Is your favorite food still ‘pasta, pasta and more pasta’?”
DiCaprio responded from his table with a thumbs-up and mouthed confirmation that his favorite food remains unchanged since his teenage heartthrob days.
Chalamet Gets the Muscle Treatment
The host transitioned to Timothée Chalamet, nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy for “Marty Supreme.” The film, centered on a relentlessly self-confident table tennis hustler, earned additional nominations for Best Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy and Best Screenplay for co-writers Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein.
Glaser praised Chalamet’s transformation for the role with a specific measurement that drew laughter from the audience.
“What a dedicated performance you gave,” she said. “The first actor in history to put on muscle for a movie about ping pong. He gained over 60 ounces, it’s insane.”
The comedian had promised beforehand she wouldn’t “go hard” on Chalamet’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner, though she acknowledged the couple’s prominence in non-movie-related conversation as awards season begins.
The Julia Roberts Challenge
Roberts, nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for “After the Hunt,” became the subject of Glaser’s most meta joke of the evening. The comedian has spoken publicly about the difficulty of crafting successful humor about the beloved actress.
Glaser’s opening monologue included a self-referential bit that positioned Roberts as an untouchable figure in Hollywood.
“Just like ‘Wicked,’ I’m back for a sequel,” Glaser began her monologue announcing her return to hosting duties. “Just like ‘Frankenstein’ I’ve been pieced together by an unlicensed European surgeon. Just like the podcasters nominated tonight, I should not be allowed to be this close to Julia Roberts.”
The camera captured Roberts flashing her signature smile in response to the acknowledgment of her iconic status.
Balancing Act for a Returning Host
Glaser’s second turn as Golden Globes host came with increased scrutiny following her widely praised performance the previous year. The 41-year-old comedian understood the delicate balance required for the role.
“You have to be very delicate about making jokes that aren’t going to ruin anyone’s night,” Glaser explained to CBS Mornings’ Gayle King before the ceremony, which aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. “But you also want to give the people at home something to laugh at, and you want to poke fun at the people that they’re dying for you to make fun of. People at home want you to make fun of the A-listers.”
This philosophy shaped her approach to the monologue, targeting celebrities whose personal lives have become part of their public narrative while avoiding material that could genuinely wound or offend.
The Ceremony’s Context
The 2026 Golden Globes took place at the Beverly Hilton with Glaser hosting for the second consecutive year. The ceremony recognized achievements in film and television, with several nominated works receiving multiple acknowledgments.
“One Battle After Another” earned DiCaprio a nomination, while “Marty Supreme” received recognition for Chalamet’s performance and its screenplay. “After the Hunt” brought Roberts into contention for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama.
The event maintained its reputation as the unofficial kickoff to awards season, with winners and memorable moments likely to influence momentum heading toward the Academy Awards and other major ceremonies.
Key Takeaways
- Nikki Glaser used her second Golden Globes hosting gig to roast Leonardo DiCaprio about his dating preferences, generating the ceremony’s most talked-about moment
- The comedian balanced praise with playful jabs at Timothée Chalamet’s physical transformation and Julia Roberts’ untouchable status
- DiCaprio’s good-natured response to the age-gap joke demonstrated his familiarity with public commentary about his personal life
- Glaser’s approach reflected her stated goal of entertaining home viewers while avoiding genuinely hurtful material toward ceremony attendees
