Chelsea Handler took center stage at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards on Friday night, delivering a bold opening monologue that left the audience both amused and awkwardly silent. Known for her sharp wit, Handler did not shy away from poking fun at the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who are embroiled in a dispute over Baldoni's alleged misconduct on the set of their domestic abuse drama.
Handler's humor extended to other celebrities as well. She jested about Ethan Slater's role as Boq in Wicked, referring to him as a Munchkin and made a quip about Ariana Grande's relationship with Slater, implying it was intense. The audience reacted with a mix of laughter and murmured discomfort.
"Thank you for providing us with that distraction. I'm grateful. I think we're all grateful. And I think we're good. I think everybody in this room, no matter whose side you're on, we can all agree to accept that there's probably not going to be a sequel. It ends with us, guys." – Chelsea Handler
Despite the touchy subjects, Handler maintained her comedic stride, noting the importance of distractions in difficult times and expressing gratitude to Lively and Baldoni for providing one. Her comments resonated with some, yet left others in the audience visibly uneasy.
Throughout the night, Shōgun emerged as a standout, leading the television category with four wins. Meanwhile, Wicked and The Substance both secured three awards, highlighting their success. Conclave and A Real Pain each won two awards, adding to the diverse achievements celebrated during the event.
Handler praised the papal thriller Conclave, humorously admitting it made her want to have sex with Ralph Fiennes in his role as a celibate cardinal. She joked that Fiennes should steer clear of portraying Vladimir Putin, injecting levity into her commentary.
"No matter whose side you're on, we can all agree to accept that there's probably not going to be a sequel." – Chelsea Handler
The monologue further touched on Hollywood's grown-up child stars, acknowledging nominees like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande. Handler ended her speech with a nod to the Wicked press tour, acknowledging the cast's efforts while subtly critiquing the drama surrounding them.
"It is so nice to see some of our most beloved child stars all grown up and thriving: Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande are all nominated tonight," – Chelsea Handler
