The comedian opens up at the TIME100 Summit about her viral Golden Globes monologue, the line that made her pause — and why getting Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez’s blessing matter
Nikki Glaser Opens Up About That Golden Globes Joke: “It Was Kind of Mean” — But She Got Their Blessing First
Comedian Nikki Glaser, known for her razor-sharp wit and savage roast skills, took a moment of self-reflection during her appearance at the 2025 TIME100 Summit on April 23. Speaking candidly at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, Glaser admitted that one particular Golden Globes joke — which targeted music producer Benny Blanco and his fiancée, pop star Selena Gomez — may have crossed a line.
“I think I get a reputation of being mean because of the roasts, but I’m hired to be mean for those,” said Glaser, 40, referring to her role in 2024’s The Roast of Tom Brady. “The Golden Globes… it’s not my job to ruin their night.”
During the 2025 Golden Globes, Glaser quipped during her monologue:
“Selena Gomez is here with Benny Blanco, her new fiancé, and Benny Blanco is here because of the genie who granted him that wish.” She followed it up by calling Blanco a “lucky guy.”
The comment sparked online chatter, with some calling the joke harsh. Looking back, Glaser now agrees — to a point. “The one joke that I would’ve been like, ‘That was kind of mean,’ was… that genie wish line,” she said at the Summit. “Because everyone’s like, ‘He’s not attractive enough for her.’ And for me, I never looked at them and actually thought that.”
Despite the commentary, Glaser emphasized that the joke didn’t come from a malicious place — and she made sure to run it by the couple beforehand. “I texted him before, too,” she explained. “I got his number and was like, ‘Hey, you don’t know me, but I’m hosting this thing. Can I say that you’re there because a genie granted you a wish?’”
Blanco responded warmly, finding the joke hilarious. “He was like, ‘Let me run it by Selena,’” she recalled. “Then he wrote back and said, ‘Selena thinks it’s great.’ So they gave me permission.”
Glaser credited Jimmy Kimmel for giving her a valuable tip: “If you’re worried about a joke and how it’s going to go over, just ask them.”
Though known for her edgy humor, Glaser’s moment of honesty revealed a deeper level of awareness and compassion — a balance that she says she will carry into her next gig. The comedian is set to return as host for the 2026 Golden Globes.
