Nikki Glaser jokes about 'so many A-listers' in Epstein files during Golden Globes monologue

Nikki Glaser’s Golden Globes monologue skewered Epstein file redactions, CBS News controversies, and A-listers with sharp, self-aware humor
UPDATED JAN 12, 2026
Nikki Glaser hosts 83rd Golden Globes, kicks off monologue with jabs at Epstein files.(Screengrab/@TheLunarSurfer/X, Getty Images)
Nikki Glaser hosts 83rd Golden Globes, kicks off monologue with jabs at Epstein files.(Screengrab/@TheLunarSurfer/X, Getty Images)


BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards held on Sunday, January 11, comedian Nikki Glaser delivered a bold opening monologue that quickly set the tone for the evening.

Hosting the Golden Globes for the second consecutive year, Glaser leaned into sharp, biting humor aimed at Hollywood power players, major media companies, and the long-debated Epstein files. Her jokes landed squarely on some of the most controversial topics circulating in the entertainment industry, drawing both laughter and audible gasps from the room.

Nikki Glaser attends the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Nikki Glaser attended the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on January 11, 2026 (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Nikki Glaser targets Epstein files in Golden Globes monologue

Glaser opened her set by poking fun at the ongoing speculation surrounding Warner Bros. Discovery, joking about the studio’s valuation. “We’ll start the bidding for Warner Bros. at $5. Do I hear $5?” she quipped.

Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos were both present in the audience as the joke landed. Glaser followed it with a jab at Los Angeles itself, describing the city as “the heart of Los Angeles, where no TV or film has been made for the past six years.”

She then shifted toward recent media controversies involving CBS News. Ahead of Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount, “60 Minutes,” which airs on Paramount-owned CBS, had agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump for $16 million. The settlement, along with the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief, had sparked criticism aimed at CBS News’ editorial direction.

David Zaslav attends the 2022 TIME100 Gala on June 08, 2022 in New York City.
David Zaslav attended the TIME100 Gala in New York City in June 2022 amid ongoing industry scrutiny (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Glaser worked those headlines into her routine before turning to one of the night’s most pointed moments. Referencing the Epstein files, she joked that the room was filled with “so many A-listers, and by A-listers, I do mean people who are on a list that has been heavily redacted.”

She followed that line by awarding the Golden Globe for Best Editing to the Justice Department, drawing laughter by alluding to the extensive redactions in the released documents. In another swipe, Glaser mocked CBS News by giving the network an award for Most Editing, calling it “America’s newest place to see b.s. news.”

Nikki Glaser roasts Michael B Jordan in monologue

Michael B. Jordan attends the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Michael B Jordan attended the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Glaser also turned her attention to Michael B Jordan, praising his dual role in 'Sinners' before making a risqué joke about her reaction to his performance. She quickly apologized when she noticed Jordan’s mother sitting in the audience, blending shock humor with self-awareness.

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