The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday night served up a hefty dose of celebrity satire, with host Chelsea Handler delivering a blistering opening monologue that left few A-listers unscathed. The comedian's sharpest barbs, however, were reserved for Leonardo DiCaprio, whose lavish lifestyle came under spectacular fire.
Handler's Monologue Takes Aim at Hollywood Hypocrisy
Kicking off the ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Handler immediately referenced the actor's last-minute schedule change. She joked that DiCaprio had nearly missed the event after travel restrictions, following recent U.S. airstrikes on Venezuela, forced him to cancel an appearance at the Palm Springs International Film Festival the previous evening.
The punchline, however, hinged on a stark contrast. Handler gleefully reminded the audience that the 51-year-old Oscar winner had been photographed just days earlier relaxing on Jeff Bezos's superyacht in the Caribbean near St. Barts. He was accompanied by his 27-year-old girlfriend, model Vittoria Ceretti, and was seen socialising with NFL icon Tom Brady.
Seizing on DiCaprio's well-known environmental advocacy, Handler leaned into the irony. "Leo almost didn't make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Barts," she quipped. "It was just like the Titanic, but worse… because Jeff Bezos was there." Cameras captured DiCaprio, nominated for Best Actor for One Battle After Another, squirming in his seat with a sheepish grin as the crowd roared with laughter.
Handler's scorching commentary didn't stop there. She also teased Benicio del Toro about his selective career choices, made pointed remarks about Nicki Minaj's political views and 'White Hollywood', and referenced the ongoing feud between Kevin Costner and Taylor Sheridan. Timothée Chalamet was dubbed "a labubu," while Jacob Elordi received a shout-out for his towering stature.
Red Carpet Send-Up: Chalamet and Jenner Impersonated
Before the ceremony even began, the red carpet witnessed one of the night's most talked-about moments. Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs, co-stars of the HBO comedy Hacks, arrived in pitch-perfect costumes mimicking Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner's coordinated Chrome Hearts outfits from the Marty Supreme premiere weeks earlier.
Downs, 43, embodied Chalamet in a vibrant orange leather suit, while Stalter, 35, replicated Jenner's floor-length gown with daring cutouts. The pair didn't just wear the clothes; they performed a hilarious, note-for-note recreation of the couple's poses and choreography, with Stalter masterfully mimicking Jenner's signature pouts and hair flicks.
Chalamet, nominated for Best Actor for Marty Supreme, and Jenner had made their official red carpet debut earlier in the year in Rome. Their stylised appearance in December clearly left an impression ripe for parody.
The Big Winners: Sinners and Adolescence Lead the Pack
On the awards front, the historical drama Sinners dominated the film categories with an impressive 17 nominations, including Best Picture. It was closely followed by One Battle After Another with 14 nods. In television, the limited series Adolescence led with six nominations.
Some of the key winners on the night included:
- Best Comedy Film: The Naked Gun
- Best Foreign Language Film: The Secret Agent
- Best Young Actor: Miles Caton for Sinners
- Best Talk Show: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Best Limited Series: Adolescence
- Best Actor in a Limited Series: Stephen Graham for Adolescence
- Best Actress in a Limited Series: Sarah Snook for All Her Fault
The ceremony, which introduced new categories for variety series, casting, stunt design, and sound, was broadcast live and featured a roster of presenters including Colman Domingo, Regina Hall, and Allison Janney. The event marked Handler's return to E!, the network that formerly hosted her talk show for eight years.
