Comedian Chelsea Handler has faced a significant social media backlash following her opening monologue at the Critics' Choice Awards, which she hosted for the fourth consecutive year on Sunday night.
Monologue Jokes Fall Flat with Viewers
The 50-year-old host took to the stage at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, delivering a string of jokes aimed at A-list nominees. Her targets included Hollywood heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet, while she also took swipes at Jeff Bezos's yacht, Gwyneth Paltrow's role in 'Marty Supreme', and even Saudi Arabia.
However, the attempted humour failed to land with a large portion of the audience watching the broadcast. Many viewers swiftly turned to X, formerly Twitter, to express their displeasure, with a common complaint being that the jokes felt forced and excessively over-the-top.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
The online reaction was swift and largely negative. One user lamented, 'Chelsea Handler barely getting through these jokes,' while another bluntly stated, 'Ok can we stop with Chelsea Handler? These jokes are too much.'
A major point of contention was Handler's decision to reveal plot details. Several viewers were furious that she disclosed the endings of nominated films during her routine. One frustrated post read, 'Kind of wish Chelsea Handler didn’t give away all the nominated movies endings in this monologue? Guess I’ll skip Hamnet and Sinners now?'
The criticism extended to her overall suitability as host. Posts ranged from 'Chelsea Handler isn’t that funny, I’d prefer to see Debra Vance presenting tonight' to more direct calls like 'Fire whoever chose Chelsea Handler to host the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony she is criminally unfunny and terrible at this.' Another user simply pleaded, 'Stop letting Chelsea Handler host things.'
Handler's Promise of a 'Lighter' Tone
The negative reception came despite Handler's pre-show comments to E! News, where she indicated plans to keep the tone comparatively light. 'I try to stay away from children, but it's not that kind of show,' she said on the red carpet, adding, 'We're setting the tone for all of awards season, so we're keeping the vibes high. I want everyone to have a good time.'
She did, however, hint at some targeted barbs, stating, 'I'm going to go after a couple people... But nothing too hard - for anyone that's in the room that is.' True to her word, those not in attendance, like Nicki Minaj and Jeff Bezos, found themselves in her crosshairs.
The 2026 Critics' Choice Awards held particular significance as the first major televised ceremony of the year, preceding the Golden Globes. The event, described by Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin as 'a celebration of the very best in film and television,' saw Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' lead the nominations with an impressive 17 nods.
