Nikki Glaser Opens Up About Her Golden Globes Joke Regarding Benny Blanco

Synopsis

Nikki Glaser reveals she’s not as cruel as perceived and reflects on a Golden Globes joke about Benny Blanco that she found a bit harsh. She emphasizes the importance of clarifying her humor and discusses the approval she received from Blanco and Selena Gomez before delivering the punchline.

Key Takeaways

Nikki Glaser clarifies her reputation for being mean.
She reflects on a controversial Golden Globes joke.
Glaser received approval from Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez.
She emphasizes the importance of humor context.
Jimmy Kimmel advised her to seek approval for jokes.

Los Angeles, April 24 (NationPress) Comedian and actress Nikki Glaser insists she isn't as harsh as some people perceive. While her humor can be provocative, she views it as part of her profession. Nonetheless, she feels compelled to clarify jokes that may come off as overly critical.

The 40-year-old comedian disclosed that one of her jokes from the Golden Globes affected her more than others, according to a report by People magazine.

During the TIME100 Summit, she stated, “I believe I have a reputation for being mean due to the roast, but I'm contracted to be mean for those events”.

Glaser previously took part in 2024’s The Roast of Tom Brady. She then remarked, “At the Golden Globes, my role isn't to spoil their evening”.

According to People, Glaser faced backlash for referencing audience members Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez’s relationship as a punchline in her opening monologue at the 2025 Golden Globes held in January. The Only Murders in the Building actress, 32, was nominated for her performances in the Hulu comedy and Netflix's Emilia Perez.

“Selena Gomez is present with Benny Blanco, her new fiancé, and Benny Blanco is here because of the genie who granted him that wish,” Glaser remarked, calling the 37-year-old music producer a “lucky guy”.

During the TIME100 Summit, Glaser confessed, “Looking back, I feel that one joke I thought was ‘kind of mean’ was when I said that Selena Gomez is here because of Emilia Perez and Benny Blanco is here due to the genie granting him that wish, and I realized that was indeed pretty mean”.

She further added, “Because everyone thinks he’s not attractive enough for her, but I never viewed them that way. I feel she won too with it; I think he’s really cool.”

The comedian clarified that the joke didn’t originate from a “mean place”, which led her to believe her punchlines were acceptable to deliver.

According to Glaser, she had Blanco's approval before delivering the joke to an audience of approximately 9.3 million viewers during the CBS live broadcast.

“I texted him beforehand,” she revealed. “I obtained his number and asked, ‘Hey, you don't know me, but I'm hosting this event. Can I say you’re there because a genie granted you a wish?'”.

Fortunately for Glaser, the Call Me When You Break Up hitmakers took it in stride.

“He replied, 'That’s hilarious, let me check with Selena,' and I responded, ‘Absolutely’, and then we all waited in the writer’s room, eager to hear back. When he did, he said, 'Selena thinks it's great',” she recounted. “So they gave me the green light”.

She also acknowledged fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel for advising her, “If you’re concerned about a joke and how it will be received, just ask them”.