On January 11, 2026, the usually glitzy Golden Globes ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California took an unexpectedly personal—and sharply comedic—turn, thanks to filmmaker Judd Apatow. In a moment that quickly became the talk of the evening, Apatow stepped onto the stage to present the coveted Best Director award, but before handing over the trophy, he let the audience in on a secret that had been simmering for a decade: his "quiet boycott" of the Golden Globes.
"This is very surprising that I am here, because I’ve been boycotting the ceremony for about 10 years. A very quiet boycott, no one seems to have noticed," Apatow quipped, drawing laughter from the star-studded crowd, according to Variety. The reason? His 2015 comedy hit Trainwreck had lost the Best Picture – Musical or Comedy category to Ridley Scott’s The Martian—a decision that Apatow clearly hadn’t let go. "We’ve had beef ever since my film Trainwreck lost best comedy to Ridley Scott’s The Martian," he continued, his tone blending mock grievance with self-aware humor.
Apatow didn’t stop there. He playfully jabbed at the Golden Globes’ sometimes controversial genre categorizations. "You know, Ridley Scott. America’s favorite comedy director. Director of such hilarious comedies as Gladiator, Blade Runner and Alien," he said, sending waves of laughter through the audience, as reported by ANI and News18. The dig was both a nod to the ongoing Hollywood debate over what truly qualifies as a comedy or a drama, and a gentle roast of the awards show’s sometimes puzzling decisions.
He kept the jokes rolling, referencing the film Hamnet—a drama about William and Agnes Shakespeare’s personal tragedy that inspired Hamlet. "I can’t wait until later tonight when Best Comedy is won by Hamnet," Apatow joked, highlighting the absurdity of genre lines that seem to blur more with each awards season. The comment was a sly wink at other recent category debates, such as the intense series The Bear competing (and winning) against lighter fare like Abbott Elementary.
But Apatow’s speech wasn’t just about old grudges and Hollywood in-jokes. He took a step back, acknowledging the passage of time and the major events that had unfolded since his last appearance at the Globes. "A lot has happened since then…we’ve had COVID. I believe we’re a dictatorship now. And I’m still pretty focused on this Martian thing. I gotta be honest with you," he said, according to OK! and Variety. The line, delivered with a comedian’s timing, also packed a political punch, echoing broader anxieties and criticisms about the state of American democracy—a sentiment that’s been voiced by other celebrities and commentators in recent years.
Some viewers at home and on social media felt Apatow’s speech ran a little long, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) quipping, "Judd Apatow with the stand up routine that literally no one asked for… #GoldenGlobes." Another wrote, "listening to Judd Apatow do horrible stand up for 2 mins just to see Ryan Coogler not win a golden globe is why award season is h--- and ratings are s---." Still, the majority in the room seemed to appreciate his candor and wit, and the moment injected a dose of unscripted honesty into an evening often known for its carefully polished glamour.
Before naming the nominees for Best Director, Apatow signaled he was ready to move on—for the most part. "As an example to inspire America, I’m going to squash that beef and start the healing right now," he said, setting up the announcement of the award. The honor ultimately went to Paul Thomas Anderson for his film One Battle After Another. Apatow, ever the self-deprecating comic, remarked, "I’m very honored to be asked to present the award for Best Director, because I’m pretty sure that means the Globes people think I’m also one of the best directors. I mean, they wouldn’t have someone to present this who is worse than the nominees. They probably would want someone who was, not better, at least as good as them, as a sign of respect. So thank you for this. I mean, this is basically the equivalent of getting a lifetime achievement award."
He also made sure to thank his wife, Leslie Mann, calling her his "muse." Apatow’s humility shone through as he joked, "Sometimes I get this fear that I’m not as good as everyone else is directing, because, you know, I don’t know how to move the camera or what the lenses do or what a Best Boy is." The crowd responded warmly, a testament to his enduring likability in an industry that can sometimes take itself a bit too seriously.
Apatow’s return to the Golden Globes stage wasn’t just about personal closure. It also brought renewed attention to the perennial debate over how Hollywood defines comedy and drama. As Variety noted, the question of what qualifies as a comedy versus a drama is a long-running debate in awards circles, with shows and films often finding themselves in unexpected categories. Apatow’s playful jabs—at both the Globes and himself—highlighted how these lines are often more arbitrary than artistic, and how the industry’s sense of humor about itself can sometimes be its saving grace.
For Apatow, the night was a chance to put an old grievance to rest, even if only partly. He’s no stranger to the Golden Globes, having once been nominated as a co-writer on the original song "Walk Hard" from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. But this year, the spotlight was less about winning and more about laughing at the absurdities that come with awards season—and maybe, just maybe, letting go of a decade-old snub.
As the ceremony continued and the industry’s best and brightest celebrated their achievements, Apatow’s speech lingered in the air—a reminder that even in Hollywood, sometimes the best way to heal is to laugh, let go, and move on, one joke at a time.
