The 2026 Golden Globes had all the ingredients for online buzz: genuine, unscripted moments, sharp humor, unexpected victories, and plenty of instantly shareable viral clips.
Whether it was Timothée Chalamet’s affectionate mention of Kylie Jenner or Amanda Seyfried’s funny facial expression, the awards show was full of instantly memorable moments that people kept watching over and over.
Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jennifer Lopez and Emma Stone, gathered at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on Sunday for a glamorous ceremony. However, the attention quickly turned from the awards themselves to how people were reacting to them.
Nikki Glaser returned as host for the second consecutive year and quickly showed everyone why she’s a great choice for the job.
Glaser is famous for her quick wit and her courage to tackle controversial topics. She started the show with a bold and energetic monologue that was both daring and a little wild.
Oh my gosh, even before the actual awards started, she was absolutely fearless! She went right in with these amazing, pointed jokes – about everything and everyone! Seriously, no one was safe! You could hear the audience – gasps, groans, cheers… it was electric! She totally set the tone for the whole night, making it clear she wasn’t holding back on anyone. I was living for it!
That became evident almost immediately.
Leonardo DiCaprio laughs through Nikki Glaser’s brutal age joke
Leonardo DiCaprio was one of the first targets in host Nikki Glaser’s scorching opening monologue.
Glaser started by acknowledging what an incredible career the person had, highlighting their many famous performances, collaborations with top directors, and awards – including three Golden Globes and an Oscar.
Then came the line that broke the room.
It’s amazing you managed to do all of that before your girlfriend even turned thirty!
The room erupted with gasps and laughter, and even Leonardo DiCaprio couldn’t help but chuckle as Glaser quickly tried to correct himself.
“Leo, that wasn’t funny,” she said, quickly following up, “I didn’t want to say that, but we really don’t know anything about you. Please, tell us what’s going on!”
Nikki Glaser’s Epstein joke shocks the room – immediately
Glaser immediately sparked controversy by making a joke about the Epstein files right at the start of the show.
She said, looking around at the crowd, ‘There are a lot of famous people here… or at least, people who are famous to someone, on a very secret list.’
She then gave the ‘Golden Globe for best editing’ award to the Justice Department under Donald Trump, before criticizing CBS News.
She jokingly awarded CBS News the prize for ‘most editing,’ then sarcastically called it ‘America’s newest source of fake news.’
Timothée Chalamet gives Kylie Jenner another very public shout-out
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner openly displayed their affection for each other, making their relationship impossible to miss.
Despite not joining Timothée Chalamet on the red carpet, Kendall Jenner was a prominent figure inside the Beverly Hilton, staying by his side for the duration of the event.
As a huge Timothée Chalamet fan, I noticed something really interesting after he won for ‘Marty Supreme’! His acceptance speech was much more subdued than last year’s at the SAG Awards – he’s usually so passionate and fiery up there, but this time it felt a lot more toned down. It was sweet, but definitely a different vibe!
He explained that his father taught him to always be thankful. This gratitude helped him cope with disappointments in the past, allowing him to walk away from situations without feeling defeated, and made this current success feel even more rewarding.
Then came the moment fans were waiting for.
He finished by saying ‘I love you so much’ to his parents and partner, after quickly kissing Jenner at their table to celebrate.
Amanda Seyfried’s grimace becomes the night’s most dissected reaction
Amanda Seyfried accidentally became an internet sensation after her surprised face during the awards show—when Rose Byrne won the award she was nominated for—went viral.
Okay, so you might have seen that clip going around of me at the awards show. Honestly, for a split second, I made a little face – it just happened! But I quickly snapped out of it, clapped, and stood up, and apparently that tiny moment became a whole thing online! People are really zooming in on everything these days, aren’t they?
Judi James, an expert in body language, told The Daily Mail that Seyfried’s response seemed deliberate, rather than simply childish or annoyed.
James explained that when someone loses an award while shown on split-screen, there are typically two reactions. The traditional approach is to overreact with exaggerated displays of happiness – things like loud cheers and overly enthusiastic, insincere smiles.
James added that a newer trend favors honesty over performance.
She explained that celebrities are increasingly showing their disappointment or frustration when they don’t win, instead of simply pretending to be happy. She described Amanda Seyfried’s reaction as a playful, but clearly annoyed, facial expression.
However, people noticed the actress seemed uneasy, particularly when she started clapping before the winner was revealed and appeared to say ‘she’s not even here’ as Michelle Williams’ name was announced, which viewers took as a negative reaction.
Glen Powell’s hair gets brutally roasted on social media
Glen Powell showed off a new look – longer, lighter hair and glasses – paired with a blue velvet tuxedo, and people online had very strong, divided reactions.
‘Hair stylist did him dirty,’ one viewer posted.
‘He’s so hot but the hair…’ another wrote.
‘Blonde Glen Powell nation we are so f***ing back,’ a fan countered.
Someone playfully compared Glen Powell to Bigfoot, sharing a photo a friend took and saying it was their ‘personal Bigfoot’ sighting.
Amy Poehler beats ex-husband Will Arnett – and roasts everyone
Amy Poehler had a particularly amusing victory at the Golden Globes, winning the first-ever award for Best Podcast. It was a bit awkward because she beat out her ex-husband, Will Arnett, whose podcast, SmartLess, is very popular.
Amy Poehler accepted the award for ‘Good Hang,’ which won after a long and debated eligibility process. Snoop Dogg presented her with the trophy, a moment she instantly described as dreamlike.
‘This is exactly how I pictured it,’ she joked. ‘Snoop giving me the award!’
She then turned her sights on her fellow nominees, adding with a grin:
‘I’m fans of all of you – except for NPR. Just a bunch of celebs phoning it in. So try harder!’
Poehler’s Golden Globe win was her second, and online, people quickly celebrated it as a triumph over personal hardship. Fans applauded how she skillfully used humor to navigate what could have been an uncomfortable situation, turning it into a moment of success.
Julia Roberts gets a standing ovation – and milks it
Julia Roberts didn’t win her category, but she still owned the room.
When she came onstage to announce the winner for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the entire audience gave her a standing ovation.
‘Thank you,’ Roberts said – then pushed. ‘Everybody! Let’s go! In the back!’
She playfully predicted she’d be difficult to deal with for about a week, then happily declared it a wonderful night and a perfect time to be an artist.
Owen Cooper makes Golden Globes history
Owen Cooper had a particularly moving moment at the Golden Globes, becoming the youngest actor ever to win the award for Best Supporting Actor.
The 16-year-old star took home the trophy for his breakout performance in Netflix’s Adolescence.
This victory concluded an unprecedented awards season for Cooper, who was only 14 years old during filming.
Cooper seemed genuinely speechless and overwhelmed while on stage. He admitted he should be studying instead.
This victory also made him the second-youngest male to ever win a Golden Globe, following only Ricky Schroder, who won at nine years old in 1980.
Today, ‘adolescence’ is a widely discussed topic, gaining an average of 45 million views each month and prompting conversations worldwide among parents and teachers.
Social media users enthusiastically praised Cooper’s performance, describing him as exceptionally talented, a rising star in television, and evidence that award shows can still highlight great work.
Macaulay Culkin gets a hero’s welcome at the Golden Globes
Macaulay Culkin received a huge ovation when he appeared at the 2026 Golden Globes – his first time at the event in over three decades.
The actor, 45, hadn’t been nominated for an award since 1990, when he starred in ‘Home Alone.’ He seemed truly moved by the audience’s applause as he took the stage to announce the winner for Best Screenplay.
Culkin smiled and thanked the audience, letting the applause die down a bit. “I realize it’s a little strange seeing me when it’s not Christmas time,” he added.
You know, people often associate me with a certain festive character, and I get a kick out of reminding everyone that the magic doesn’t just disappear after the holidays! I recently joked that I actually exist all year long, and it really got a great reaction – everyone seemed to love it!
Wanda Sykes trolls Ricky Gervais as she accepts his award
Wanda Sykes used her moment accepting a Golden Globe for Ricky Gervais, who couldn’t attend, to make a sharp observation about the situation.
Ricky Gervais, winner of the Best Comedy Special for his Netflix show Morality, didn’t attend the ceremony, which allowed host Wanda Sykes to deliver a joke that quickly became incredibly popular online.
She admitted she was glad he wasn’t there, saying, ‘I love you, Ricky, but if you win, I’ll accept the award for you, and you’re going to be sure to thank both God and the transgender community.’
The comment was about the criticism Ricky Gervais received for jokes he made about transgender people in his 2022 Netflix special, SuperNature.
As a lifestyle commentator, I found it incredibly moving when Sykes accepted her award. She stayed true to her word and beautifully acknowledged both her faith and the transgender community in her acceptance speech – a really powerful moment!
Hailee Steinfeld shows off her blossoming baby bump
Hailee Steinfeld had one of the sweetest moments of the night, beaming as she showed off her baby bump on the red carpet.
The 29-year-old actress, expecting her first child with NFL player Josh Allen, gently held her baby bump while posing for photos. She wore a beautiful, flowing peach dress decorated with sparkling silver details and a long, trailing train.
Steinfeld looked confident and relaxed on the red carpet, with her hair in loose curls and simple jewelry. She was joined by other celebrities like Selena Gomez and Jennifer Garner.
Zoë Kravitz jokes about weed and shrooms
Zoë Kravitz got one of the biggest laughs of the night when she presented an award with Dave Franco, playfully embracing her image as someone who always appears calm and collected.
Zoe Kravitz playfully shared that Seth Rogen once asked her to portray a character who appeared to have a significant drug issue, which got a big laugh from the audience.
Then she doubled down.
She added, ‘Just so everyone knows, please stop offering us mushrooms wherever we go. I’m Zoë Kravitz, and I’m perfectly capable of getting my own.’
Franco immediately responded with a witty comeback, playfully stating, ‘I’m not Zoë Kravitz, and I’ll gladly take your mushrooms.’
The moment quickly spread online, and people loved Kravitz’s witty and perfectly timed response.
Leonardo DiCaprio becomes new king of memes
Leonardo DiCaprio might be the new meme king after his funny moments at the three-hour awards show quickly spread across social media.
The Academy Award winner, sitting with his 82-year-old mother, Irmelin Indenbirken, and fellow actor Sean Penn, surprisingly became the center of attention. He was spotted making playful and cheeky faces at other stars and the cameras, which everyone loved.
A video of Leonardo DiCaprio is circulating online, showing him enthusiastically gesturing and talking to someone while filming a commercial break.
The usually private celebrity playfully indicated he was looking at someone just off camera, pointing to his own eyes then towards them. He then waved and clapped enthusiastically.
People were excited to see this unusual side of DiCaprio, as he typically wears N95 masks in public.
One X user wrote that they were shocked by how lively someone was, saying it was the most expressive they’d ever seen them.
Leonardo DiCaprio rarely shows much enthusiasm, so seeing him so excited is truly remarkable.
Another added: ‘Obsessed with this. sass x 1000.’
Nikki Glaser’s cringe singing is stopped cold by Fran Drescher
Nikki Glaser intentionally created a hilariously awkward moment during a sketch, which many viewers considered the most uncomfortable part of the show.
The Golden Globes host opened the show with a humorous bit, pretending to be a character from the Netflix series K-Pop Demon Hunters. He sang a parody of the song ‘Golden’ while comically using a ping-pong paddle as a microphone, referencing a request to avoid singing during the ceremony.
Despite the awkwardness, Glaser continued performing until Fran Drescher suddenly rushed the stage and stopped the act.
“Please, just stop,” Drescher pleaded. “I love you, honey, but your singing is really bothering me!”
The moment quickly exploded online, with reactions ranging from amused to outright hostile.
‘Nikki Glaser humiliation ritual complete,’ one viewer posted on X.
People expressed their disappointment online, with one asking why Nikki Glaser was behaving as she did and another criticizing the Golden Globes for prioritizing her performance over awarding Ludwig Göransson for best original score.
Teyana Taylor flashes diamond thong on stage
Teyana Taylor turned heads at the 2026 Golden Globes with a daring fashion choice: a dress that revealed her diamond-studded thong.
The actress from “One Battle After Another,” nominated for Best Supporting Actress, wore a stunning custom Schiaparelli gown. The dress featured a daring cutout, an elegant scarf, and a long, flowing train.
While walking to the podium to receive her award, Taylor playfully twirled to showcase her outfit from behind.
She playfully told the crowd, ‘Wait until you see what I have planned for the after-party!’ which got a big laugh and applause. Then, speaking directly to her children who were watching at home, she admitted, ‘I almost didn’t bother writing a speech.’ She added with a loving but firm tone, ‘My sweet babies are upstairs – you all better put down those phones and watch me right now!’
Taylor gave one of the most moving speeches of the evening, speaking directly to young women of color watching from home.
She stated firmly, “Our kindness isn’t a weakness, and our passing isn’t something to be ashamed of. We shouldn’t feel like we’re taking up too much space. We have the right to be confident and share our ideas, and our aspirations are worthy of pursuit. We deserve to be heard and to have our dreams realized.”
Nikki Glaser closes the night with a tear-jerking tribute to Rob Reiner
Nikki Glaser ended the 2026 Golden Globes on a powerful note. After a night of sharp, funny jokes, she surprised everyone with a heartfelt and moving tribute to the late director Rob Reiner.
As the event concluded, Glaser returned to the stage, this time wearing a black baseball cap referencing Rob Reiner’s famous 1984 mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap. He then spoke to the audience with a seriousness that surprised many.
The short comment resonated deeply, serving as a tribute to Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who both passed away in December.
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2026-01-12 10:09