Nikki Glaser’s sharp wit and captivating stage presence made her a standout host at the 2025 Golden Globes, earning her widespread acclaim for her comedic monologue. Known for her ability to deliver biting humor with a charming edge, Glaser left the audience in splits with jokes about Hollywood stars like Ben Affleck, Timothée Chalamet, and Nicole Kidman. However, as she revealed the day after the event during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM (via US Weekly), not all of her jokes made it to live television.
Behind the scenes, Glaser worked closely with her team to fine-tune her material, ensuring that her humor struck a balance between being edgy and entertaining without crossing the line. The decision to cut certain jokes wasn’t just about avoiding controversy—it was also about considering the tone of the event, the sensibilities of the audience, and the potential backlash from viewers.
From quips about Sean “Diddy” Combs to the Catholic Church and even Alec Baldwin’s Rust shooting tragedy, Glaser shared details about the monologue that could have been, explaining why certain jokes were deemed too risky or inappropriate for the live broadcast.
Sean “Diddy” Combs: A Missed Opportunity for a Bold Punchline
One of the jokes that didn’t make it to air involved Sean “Diddy” Combs, the embattled music mogul facing allegations of rape and sex trafficking. Glaser had originally planned to deliver a sharp line that would have referenced the legal troubles surrounding Diddy:
“This is the last time all of you will be in the same room together until the Diddy trial.”
However, the joke was ultimately cut. Glaser explained, “We had another Diddy mention that worked better. You only get one Diddy mention, and you don’t want to overdo it. Plus, that joke could have implied that the people in the room were complicit, and that’s not a great way to win over the audience.”
Instead, Glaser opted for a lighter, more playful jab during the monologue, poking fun at the fact that Diddy’s absence would affect the afterparty scene:
“‘Challengers’ was more sexually charged than Diddy’s credit card! …No baby oil this year, just lots of olive oil.”
The revised joke still managed to get a laugh without delving too deeply into Diddy’s controversies.
Jokes About the Catholic Church: A Well-Worn Subject
Another set of jokes Glaser ultimately decided to cut revolved around the Catholic Church, specifically referencing the film Conclave, a drama about the election of a new pope. One such joke included:
“‘Conclave’ is about choosing a new pope. It’s heartwarming. It will touch you so much that the church will have to move it to another theater.”
Glaser admitted she loved the humor in the line but felt it was too predictable: “We’ve all heard enough Catholic Church jokes. It’s overdone at this point, and I didn’t want to rehash the same material that’s been used for decades.”
Her choice to avoid rehashing tired tropes highlights her dedication to delivering fresh and innovative comedy, even at the expense of cutting material she personally enjoyed.
Adrien Brody’s Holocaust Roles: Where the Line Was Drawn
Actor Adrien Brody, known for his award-winning performances in Holocaust-themed films such as The Pianist, was also the target of Glaser’s humor. During the live broadcast, she joked:
“Adrien Brody is a two-time Holocaust survivor.”
However, there was an additional punchline she chose to leave out, which would have pushed the envelope further:
“If Adrien Brody could go back in time, he’d thank baby Hitler for his career.”
While Glaser admitted she found the joke hilarious, she ultimately decided against it, citing her assistant’s reaction as a factor: “My assistant is Gen Z, and she said, ‘I don’t get it.’ If Gen Z doesn’t get the joke, it’s not worth risking alienating an entire generation. Plus, then I’ve said ‘Hitler’ for nothing.”
This decision underscores Glaser’s awareness of the generational divide in humor and the importance of crafting jokes that resonate with a broad audience.
Nicole Kidman and Timothée Chalamet: The Tamed Jokes
Nicole Kidman and Timothée Chalamet were among the stars who received playful jabs during Glaser’s monologue, but some of the more biting jokes were left out. For Kidman, Glaser initially considered a quip about her drinking habits:
“‘The Wild Robot’ is nominated tonight—and by that I mean Nicole Kidman after two white wines.”
Although Glaser was eager to include it, she hesitated, worrying that Kidman might not take the joke well: “You never want to risk alienating someone as iconic as Nicole Kidman in the room. It’s not worth losing her support over one punchline.”
As for Chalamet, Glaser opted to poke fun at his mustache during the broadcast but had originally prepared a much edgier joke about his transformation into Bob Dylan for the biopic A Complete Unknown:
“Timothée Chalamet took lessons in guitar, dialect, movement, and vocals to become Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan became Bob Dylan the old-fashioned way: heroin and autism.”
The joke, while clever, was ultimately deemed too risky for live television, highlighting the delicate balance Glaser had to maintain between humor and sensitivity.
Alec Baldwin and the Rust Tragedy: A Line She Refused to Cross
Perhaps the most controversial joke Glaser considered involved Alec Baldwin and the fatal shooting on the set of Rust, which claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The cut joke went:
“Michael Keaton was so great in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.’ And Alec Baldwin sadly didn’t come back to play a ghost because he was too busy making them.”
While Glaser acknowledged the humor in the line, she also recognized its insensitivity: “Please know that I know that was not nice. It’s such a great joke, but it’s just too mean.”
This moment illustrates Glaser’s ability to recognize when a joke crosses the line and her commitment to ensuring her comedy doesn’t come at the expense of compassion.
Ben Affleck, Matt Gaetz, and the “Joker 2” Roast
Ben Affleck was another celebrity who almost received a harsher roast. While Glaser joked on air about his supposed outbursts, she held back on a more biting line:
“Here’s to Ben Affleck. I can’t wait to see which Jennifer you try to ruin next.”
Similarly, a joke about Congressman Matt Gaetz’s alleged involvement in sex trafficking was cut to avoid controversy:
“‘Anora’ is nominated tonight. It’s been called the most unflinching look at sex work since Matt Gaetz’s payment history.”
One of Glaser’s boldest cuts was her original take on Joker: Folie à Deux. The aired version lightly mocked its box office struggles, but the original draft was far darker:
“I saw ‘Joker 2,’ and it reminded me of when the first Joker came out and I was afraid someone would shoot up the theater. During ‘Joker 2,’ I was really hoping they would.”
The decision to exclude this line reflects Glaser’s awareness of the potential fallout from such provocative humor.
Glaser’s Triumphant Hosting and Future Prospects
Despite cutting some of her edgiest jokes, Nikki Glaser’s hosting performance was widely praised for its cleverness and relatability. Her ability to navigate the delicate balance of comedy at a high-profile event like the Golden Globes solidified her reputation as one of today’s sharpest comedic voices.
The Golden Globes’ executive producer, Glenn Weiss, commended Glaser’s performance in an interview with Variety:
“We had a great experience with Nikki, and we think she’d be fantastic at this in the long term.”
With the overwhelming success of her hosting debut, it seems likely that Glaser will become a fixture at future award shows, bringing her unique blend of sharp humor and thoughtful restraint to audiences for years to come.
The Information is Collected from Variety and Yahoo.
