Chelsea Handler addressed one of the most talked-about celebrity moments of the season during her Critics Choice Awards opening monologue. The comedian aimed at Leonardo DiCaprio, roasting him for his recent yacht vacation with billionaire Jeff Bezos ahead of the awards ceremony.
Chelsea Handler roasts Leonardo DiCaprio at Critics Choice Awards
Chelsea Handler opened the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards on January 4, 2026, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, with a comedic monologue. She targeted Leonardo DiCaprio, saying, “Leo almost didn’t make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Bart’s. It was just like the Titanic, but worse, because Jeff Bezos was there.” DiCaprio, 51, was in attendance for his nomination for One Battle After Another.
Handler joked about DiCaprio’s recent vacation in St. Barts with billionaire Jeff Bezos and others. DiCaprio missed the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala because air traffic restrictions followed the U.S.-Venezuela conflict. He was scheduled to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for the same film.
This marked Handler’s fourth consecutive year hosting the Critics Choice Awards. The 2026 ceremony introduced four new categories: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Sound. Sinners led film nominations with 17, while Netflix’s Adolescence topped TV nominations with six.
Handler also made additional jokes during her monologue, including one about Billy Bob Thornton’s scene in Landman and another about Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav in reference to Sinners. “Fun fact, the original name of the main vampire was David Zaslav,” she said.
The 2025 Critics Choice Awards had previously been delayed due to the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. That event took place on February 7, 2025, with a tribute to firefighters and volunteers. Handler addressed the tragedy by stating, “I know I speak for all of us when I say what we saw and the scope of loss has been almost impossible to imagine.” A donation QR code was displayed during the broadcast.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
