Chelsea Handler Pokes Fun at Blake Lively During 2025 Critics Choice Monologue
Chelsea Handler held nothing back while hosting the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, particularly regarding the relentless news coverage surrounding the legal issues involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni related to It Ends With Us.
The comedian, 49, opened her monologue by addressing the lawsuit between the former co-stars during the ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday, January 12.
“I want to acknowledge that we’ve been through a lot lately, not just here in Los Angeles, but our entire country,” Handler stated. “It’s crucial in such times to have a distraction, and that’s why I personally want to thank Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Thanks for providing that distraction – we all appreciate it!”
Lively, 37, filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, 41, in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and efforts to tarnish her reputation. Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover‘s novel, has vehemently denied these allegations. Last month, he filed a countersuit seeking $400 million in damages, claiming Lively was “intent on portraying Baldoni as the real-life villain” to distract from her alleged “tone-deaf” promotion of the film. Lively has denied these accusations as well.
“I think everyone here, regardless of which side they’re on, can agree that it’s likely there won’t be a sequel,” Handler remarked. “It ends with us, folks.”
Handler’s monologue also marked her third time hosting the Critics Choice Awards, calling it her “second longest relationship,” and she celebrated the nominees, including Conclave, Angelina Jolie, and Wicked.
“Tonight is all about celebrating the love and success in this room,” Handler continued. “It’s wonderful to see some of our cherished child stars all grown up and thriving. Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande are all nominees this evening. And now, Ariana has even found love with a munchkin!”
Grande, 31, is currently dating Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, who portrayed a munchkin named Boq in the 2024 musical adaptation. However, the joke didn’t seem to resonate with the audience, particularly Grande.
Handler is notorious for her bold humor on stage. Last year, while hosting the event, she made a cheeky remark about her ex-boyfriend Jo Koy during her routine. After receiving giggles from the crowd, she quipped, “Thanks for laughing; my writers came up with that one.”
Earlier in January 2024, Koy, 53, faced criticism for blaming his writers after his Golden Globe Awards monologue fell flat.
“Some I wrote, some were written by others,” he commented during his hosting duties. “I got the job only 10 days ago. You expect me to have a flawless monologue? Come on! I wrote some of these, and those are the ones you laughed at.”
Koy, who was in a relationship with Handler from 2021 to 2022, later expressed regret for his comments.
“There are many greats who make rookie mistakes, and that was one of mine,” he shared with the Los Angeles Times, referring to his decision to throw his writers under the bus. “Those writers are incredible, and that wasn’t my intention. They were fantastic, supporting me, and I will make sure to rectify this, I always will.”
In October 2024, the Critics Choice Association announced Handler would return to host the awards for the third consecutive year—celebrating the best in film and television—with the ceremony scheduled to air live on E! for the first time after being previously broadcast on The CW.
“We’re excited to partner with E! to present our landmark 30th annual Critics Choice Awards,” stated CCA CEO Joey Berlin in a press release. “With the remarkable Chelsea Handler returning as our host, we anticipate this special 30th anniversary show will be our biggest and best yet, and we’re thrilled to have it go live on E! and stream the next day on Peacock.”
Handler, for her part, noted the irony of the awards show moving to the E! network, where she hosted her previous late-night program, Chelsea Lately, from 2007 to 2014.
“Returning to host the Critics Choice Awards for a third year feels even more special knowing it will now be aired on E!,” she mentioned in the press release. “It feels like I’m coming back to my roots.”
