Teyana Taylor shared her reaction to Julia Roberts’ playful remark during the 2026 Golden Globes held on January 11. The singer and actress recalled how Roberts jokingly told her to “eat a sandwich” as they embraced on the red carpet, an interaction that has since captured widespread attention. Taylor described the moment as touching and memorable, emphasizing her admiration for Roberts while mentioning the comment in a lighthearted way.
A Memorable Encounter Between Two Stars
<pTaylor, who stars in "One Battle After Another," became emotional as she met Roberts, a longtime hero of hers, at the awards ceremony. She recalled in an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 14 that Roberts’ teasing about needing a sandwich was meant affectionately. “I’ve seen people trying to get on her about that,” Taylor said. “I was like, ‘Hold on.’ She told me I needed a sandwich because she couldn’t find my waist. She was like, ‘Girl, you need a sandwich.’ It was so cute.”
Describing the experience, Taylor also noted how Roberts seemed to part the crowd for her on the red carpet, comparing the scene to a miraculous moment.
“It was so amazing. I just remember her parting the sea for me. She came through like Moses,”
Taylor said. She added,
“She was floating. It was so scary how perfectly she was floating. I just dived into her arms. It was just the cutest moment and I started crying.”
Gratitude and Emotional Impact of Meeting Julia Roberts
Following her win for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the Globes, Taylor reflected on the profound impact of her encounter with Roberts during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. She described Roberts’ presence as powerful and inspiring.
“It was too much happening tonight. She parted the sea for me,”
Taylor recalled.
“She told everybody to move out the way. Oh, my God, it was scary. It looked so magical that when she came close to me, [I said,] ‘Don’t come another step, don’t come another step further. My eyes is getting watery.’”
Taylor continued,
“I could not believe that I was meeting her. She’s literally one of my heroes and what she poured into me literally had me crying… She poured so much life into me. She poured so much life into me and I needed that. Oh, my God, that was amazing.”
In her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, Taylor expressed heartfelt thanks, saying,
“My gratitude is endless. I love you, we love you, and thank you so much for holding space for me and our entire cast.”
Discussing Gratitude at The Rip Premiere
On January 13, at the New York City premiere of her upcoming film The Rip, Taylor emphasized the importance of gratitude amid success and blessings. She explained,
“I think it’s so important, because I think through everything and through blessings, these are things that we pray for. When you get that, you should always be grateful and filled with gratitude. That’s what it feels like for me.”
Teyana Taylor Clarifies Leonardo DiCaprio’s Viral Golden Globes Moment
During the same interview on The Tonight Show, Taylor addressed a viral moment involving her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio at the Golden Globes, where he appeared to be talking about the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. Taylor revealed that although she did speak with DiCaprio about the movie, that conversation was not the one filmed.
“So apparently he had two KPop Demon Hunters conversations that night, so KPop Demon Hunters was just in his mouth all night!”
she joked.
“I’m like, ‘Who else are you kiki’ing with like that?’ Because literally that’s how we kiki [by making hand gestures]. So I had a little friendly jealousy. I was like, ‘Who else are you chewing your invisible gum with?’”
The Lasting Effect of Julia Roberts’ Gesture at the Globes
Teyana Taylor’s meeting with Julia Roberts represents a heartfelt moment of recognition and support between two prominent figures within the entertainment industry. The playful “eat a sandwich” comment, far from being damaging, reflected warmth and camaraderie, helping to highlight Taylor’s confidence and presence during the 2026 Golden Globes. This experience not only underscored Taylor’s rising success, affirmed by her award win, but also the significance of mentorship and encouragement among artists.
Moving forward, Taylor continues to embrace her evolving career with gratitude and openness, while her interactions with icons like Roberts add memorable chapters to her journey. Fans can anticipate further appearances and projects from Taylor, building on the momentum gained at this award season event.
