The Golden Globes, an awards ceremony honoring film and television, held its 83rd annual event on January 11th. The event was hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, who returned for her second year, and featured many presenters, including Charli XCX, Joe Keery, Julia Roberts, Kevin Hart and more.
This event is not just about the awards—its fashion, celebrity dynamics and comedy give it a distinctly playful tone that distinguishes it from other award shows. Much of that energy can be accredited to Glazer, whose sharp jokes kept audiences tuned in to see which unlucky celebrity she would roast. Glazer was the first solo female host of the Golden Globes last year, and the overwhelming positive reception from the public made her a no-brainer to host for this year. Glazer’s raunchy and unfiltered jokes ranged from topics like Leonardio DiCaprio’s inappropriately-aged girlfriends to the Epstein list.
Several movies secured wins in their respective categories, including Hamnet, One Battle after another, KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners. Critics of the Golden Globes often complain that the winner is often obvious, and many felt this was reinforced for this year’s results. Bella Brecker ‘26 commented, “Benicio del Toro was snubbed for Best Supporting Male Actor in a Motion Picture. His performance in One Battle After Another had my whole family laughing because he had such great comedic timing.”
Another widely believed snub was Timothée Chalamet winning best actor for his role in Marty Supreme over Michael B. Jordan for his role in Sinners. Jordan actually played two roles—twin brothers—a feat that many felt earned him accolades. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which decides the winners, has faced longstanding criticism for a lack of inclusivity towards Black artists, both through the lack of representation on the voting committee and a history of snubs.
The Golden Globes continuously reinvents itself, and this year was no different. A new category for Best Podcast, won by Amy Poehler for Good Hang, reflects the evolution of the media landscape. Other changes were less liked. The award for best original score was not broadcasted, upsetting many viewers. The show also included a graphic overlay identifying where various actors were seated in lieu of the typical display of clips from the featured films and movies.
The speeches were largely apolitical, with the exception of Nikki Glazer and a few other celebrities making vague allusions to current events. However, the red carpet was a different story, with major stars such as Mark Ruffalo, Ariana Grande and Natasha Lyonne wearing pins referencing the #BeGood campaign which honors Renee Nicole Good, a woman recently killed by an ICE officer during a protest.
