The 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards, held on Sunday, saw host Chelsea Handler deliver a spectacular roasting of Hollywood A-listers, with Leonardo DiCaprio firmly in the crosshairs over his lavish lifestyle.
Handler's Monologue Targets DiCaprio's Eco-Irony
In her opening monologue, Handler didn't hold back, immediately joking that DiCaprio had almost missed the ceremony. The reason stemmed from travel restrictions following U.S. airstrikes on Venezuela, which had forced the actor to skip the Palm Springs International Film Festival the previous night.
Handler gleefully highlighted the irony for the 51-year-old star, who is well-known for his environmental activism. She reminded the audience that DiCaprio had been spotted just days earlier relaxing on Jeff Bezos' superyacht in the Caribbean, off the coast of St. Barts. He was accompanied by his 27-year-old girlfriend, model Vittoria Ceretti, and even spent time with NFL legend Tom Brady.
'Leo almost didn’t make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Barts,' Handler quipped. 'It was just like the Titanic, but worse… because Jeff Bezos was there.' DiCaprio, nominated for Best Actor for One Battle After Another, was seen squirming in his seat before offering a sheepish smile to the cameras.
Red Carpet Send-Ups and Major Nominations
The night's humour wasn't reserved for DiCaprio alone. The red carpet itself became a stage for a hilarious impersonation, as Hacks co-stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs arrived dressed as Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.
Their costumes were a precise replica of the couple's coordinated Chrome Hearts looks from the Marty Supreme premiere weeks earlier. Stalter and Downs meticulously recreated Jenner and Chalamet's poses and body language, delivering a full-blown send-up that stole significant spotlight.
On the awards front, the film Sinners led the pack 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 topped the list with six nominations.
Winners and Notable Snubs
The ceremony, held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, introduced four new categories this year: Best Variety Series, Casting, Stunt Design, and Sound. The event, launched in 1995, has grown from a modest gathering to a major bellwether for the awards season.
Among the key winners were Miles Caton, named Best Young Actor for Sinners, and the casting team for Wicked: For Good. The Naked Gun won Best Comedy, while The Secret Agent took Best Foreign Language Film.
Notable snubs included Cynthia Erivo, who was overlooked for her role as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good, while her co-star Ariana Grande secured a Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing Glinda.
The night was a blend of sharp comedy, fierce competition, and memorable fashion, cementing the Critics Choice Awards' place as a pivotal and entertaining start to the annual awards calendar.
