In her 2026 Golden Globes monologue, Nikki Glaser initially planned to address Sydney Sweeney’s challenging year, but ultimately decided to remove the joke. The decision came because Sweeney was not present in the audience, leading Glaser to hold back on delivering a sharply critical punchline about the actress. The comedian later shared the details during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, clarifying her choice and revealing the content of the discarded joke.
Details of the Cut Joke and Its Target
Glaser described the joke as a reflection on the current strange state of Hollywood, emphasizing limited theater audiences. She stated,
“Tonight is a night of celebration, but we can’t ignore that it’s a weird time in Hollywood.”
She went on to specify,
“People just aren’t going to the theater to see things. If you don’t believe me, there was a movie this year where Sydney Sweeney played a lesbian who just bounced around in tiny shorts for two hours, and it made $14.”
The quip referred to Christy, Sweeney’s 2025 biopic portraying boxer Christy Martin, which underperformed significantly at the box office despite the actress’s intense transformation for the role.
Glaser’s Bold Monologue and Other Celebrities in Her Crosshairs
Besides her cut remarks on Sweeney, Nikki Glaser hinted at having prepared similarly edgy jokes aimed at other A-list celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jonathan Bailey, and Julia Roberts. However, she opted not to deliver many of these harsher jokes, sparing several stars. Nevertheless, Glaser did include unfiltered comments targeting Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet during her performance, making her monologue notably daring amid an already tense and uneasy Hollywood atmosphere.
Significance of the Cut Joke and Its Reflection on Hollywood’s Current Climate
Glaser’s decision to withhold the Sydney Sweeney joke underscores the complex dynamics of celebrity presence and public criticism at major events like the Golden Globes. The sharp critique about Sweeney’s film highlights ongoing struggles for actors and movies in Hollywood’s evolving landscape, characterized by dwindling theater attendance and mixed audience reception. Moreover, Glaser’s overall approach to her monologue, targeting some stars while softening her stance on others, illustrates the delicate balance comedians navigate between humor and respect in high-profile settings.
