‘Bomb’: Chelsea Handler’s awkward Critics Choice Awards monologue

From Blake Lively, to Ariana Grande and Ralph Fiennes, no-one was safe from Chelsea Handler’s awkward Critics Choice opening monologue.

Celebrities squirmed through an at-times awkward monologue at the Critics Choice Awards, courtesy of host Chelsea Handler.

The US TV presenter, helming the 30th annual celebration of film and TV for the third time in a row, bravely ventured to making jokes about the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni feud, as well as Ariana Grande’s relationship with Ethan Slater in her opening.

Speaking to the career endurance of former teen stars Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Grande, who were each nominated for awards, Handler made a bizarrely flat gag about the latter’s relationship with her Wicked co-star Slater, who played munchkin Bok in the musical film.

Chelsea Handler’s opening monologue was dubbed a “bomb” among viewers.

“And now Ariana has even found love with a munchkin,” Handler offered.

Cue, mass crickets.

Cameras opted not to flash to Grande to capture her no-doubt confused reaction.

Handler attempted to salvage the vibe of the room, saying after a lengthy pause, “That’s good news, everybody!”

Ariana Grande was in the audience, though cameras didn't flash to her at the time of the joke.

Handler also poked fun at the ongoing Lively and Baldoni legal drama playing out in the media. Fair game, some could argue. The main problem? A lack of laughable lines.

“I want to acknowledge we’ve been through a lot lately. Waking up everyday not knowing what news we are going to hear that will disappoint or horrify us, so it is important in times like these to have a distraction,” Handler began.

“Which is why I personally want to extend my gratitude to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively. Thank you for providing us with that distraction.

“I’m grateful, I think we’re all grateful, and I think we’re good. I think everybody in this room no matter whose side you’re on, we can all agree to accept there’s probably not going to be a sequel. It ends with us, guys.”

Orlando Bloom mustered a giggle.

Angelina Jolie was stone-faced when cameras flashed to her.

Handler’s assessment of Conclave nominee Ralph Fiennes was easily her highlight zinger of the night.

“You’ve played a ruthless Nazi, an evil lord Dumbledore and a celibate cardinal, and somehow you’ve made me want to have sex with you in all roles,” she said.

“You’ve made some truly some unsexy people, very sexy. So, I’m begging you never play Vladimir Putin. I can’t do that again.”

Handler’s Ralph Fiennes gag was the best of the night.

It wasn’t enough to sway viewers watching from home, dozens of whom have taken to X to dub Handler’s monologue a “bomb”.

“Somebody get chelsea handler off the stage please….” one wrote.

“Chelsea Handler makes ME uncomfortable,” another said.

“chelsea handler keeps going silent like expecting everyone to laugh, girl this is a chop,” a third added.

“Aan someone please turn the volume down on chelsea handler’s mic,” another wrote.

“hosting is not an easy gig but wow is chelsea handler setting an awfully strange and sinister tone,” said another.

“help chelsea handler said ‘now ariana has even found love with a munchkin’ and no one laughed nor did the camera pan to Ariana,” a sixth said.

The Critics Choice Awards took place at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar.

On the awards front, Conclave and Wicked were frontrunners in film with a whopping 11 nods each, while sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two and drug cartel musical Emilia Perez trail behind with 10 apiece.

Originally published as ‘Bomb’: Chelsea Handler’s awkward Critics Choice Awards monologue