State Champ Radio Author: djfrosty
Page: 1037
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Cetaphil / Cetaphil
Remember when you had to watch the Super Bowl just to see the actual Super Bowl commercials? Not anymore.
Being that brands are paying millions for their spots during the Big Game, many have said “later” for any anticipation and have been touting their commercials before players have even stepped on the field for practice.
The spots have plenty of range, too. For example, you have Meg Ryan and Billie Crystal reuniting to make magic based on a movie that dropped 35 years ago, and then you have Lil Wayne basically announcing his new album via a commercial for lotion. One throughline we do appreciate, when done well, is the use of Hip-Hop music (see Pfize with LL Cool J and Michelob Ultra with Rick Ross).
We’ll keep tabs on any commercials that actually debut during the Super Bowl and will add here accordingly. But for the right now, here are all the best Super Bowl 25 commercials. And some “meh,” too—for archival purposes.
1. Pfizer
Props for the usage of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out.” F*ck cancer, infinitely.
2. Michelob ULTRA – The ULTRA Hustle
Rick Ross is getting a check, and Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara are basically scammers—watch out for Sabrina Ionescu, Randy Moss, and Ryan Crouser.
3. Bud Light – Big Men on Cul-de-Sac
Feauturing Shane Gillis, Post Malone, and Peyton Manning, we respect it due to the clutch use of Huey Lewis & The News music.
4. Google Pixel – Dream Job
Love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.
5. Hellmann’s – When Harry Met Sally Reunion
The fact that Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reunited to push Hellmann’s mayonnaise in homage to When Harry Met Sally is textbook example of the jokes write themselves.
6. Häagen-Dazs – Not So Fast, Not So Furious
Apparently Häagen-Daz has a budget for Ludacris, Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel to parody The Fast & The Furious. What a time.
7. Cetaphil – We’re all a Lil Sensitive
You gotta give Lil Wayne props for being able to laugh at himself after the whole Why Kendrick and not met at the Super Bowl brouhaha. And he managed to sneak in a Carter VI announcement.
8. STōK Cold Brew Coffee | Hollywood Magic
Channing Tatum getting his dance on to C+C Music Factory for cold brew coffee, and to inspire soccer celebration, wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card.
Charli XCX and Noah Kahan are joining Chappell Roan in supporting artists facing healthcare challenges.
On Saturday (Feb. 8), the 32-year-old British pop star shared on her Instagram Story that, like Kahan, she is matching Roan’s pledge to donate $25,000 to help artists who are struggling to afford healthcare after being dropped by their record labels.
“hey @chappellroan i am going to match your 25k to support artists’ access to healthcare. i saw @noahkahanmusic say that he would do the same and so i thought i’d follow suit,” Charli wrote, alongside a photo of the word “money” with an arrow pointing to her mouth. “your speech at the grammys was inspiring and thoughtful and from a genuine place of care. happy to help get the ball rolling too. money where mouth is xx.”
Charli’s donation was inspired by Kahan, who also shared on his Instagram Story that he would match the financial donation. “Hey @chappellroan, I’m going to match your 25K to support artist’s access to healthcare,” the “Stick Season” singer wrote. “I’m inspired by you. Happy to help get the ball rolling. Money where mouth is!”
Trending on Billboard
During her best new artist acceptance speech at the 2025 Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, Roan called out record labels for failing to provide livable wages or healthcare coverage to their artists, citing her own experience after being dropped by Atlantic Records in 2020.
“If my label would have prioritized artists’ health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to,” she told the audience.
In the days that followed, Roan’s comments sparked criticism from former A&R executive Jeff Rabhan, who wrote a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, calling her speech “wildly misinformed.”
Roan responded to Rabhan on social media, challenging him to contribute to the cause. “@jeffrabhan wanna match me $25K to donate to struggling dropped artists?” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “My publicist is @biz3publicity let’s talk.”
The 26-year-old pop star assured her fans that she would keep them “updated on the much awaited @jeffrabhan response,” sharing receipts of any donations, and even directing a final message to the former executive: “Mr. Rabhan, I love how in the article you said ‘put your money where your mouth is,’” Roan wrote. “Genius !!! Let’s link and build together and see if you can do the same.”
Some industry executives and advocates responded positively to Roan’s speech at the Grammys. In an interview with Billboard, the Music Healthcare Alliance’s founder and CEO, Tatum Allsep, said he was “jumping on my couch” when he heard her remarks.
“I was like, ‘Gosh, thank you for bringing this up.’ The conversation was started,” Allsep said. “What’s really important to know for all the young artists who are listening is you don’t have to go without if you are making a living within our industry.”
David Schwimmer is calling for Ye’s removal from X after the rapper posted a series of controversial and antisemitic remarks.
On Saturday (Feb. 8), the Friends star took to social media to address Elon Musk, urging the X owner to ban Ye — formerly known as Kanye West –from the platform.
“This is so 2022. We can’t stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk,” the Jewish actor, 58, wrote on Instagram. “Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That’s twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews.”
In recent days, Ye has gone on a tweet spree filled with hate, once again praising Nazis and Adolf Hitler while targeting the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities. In addition to embracing antisemitic stereotypes and hate speech, the 47-year-old rapper also tweeted support for Diddy, who is currently in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Schwimmer continued, “I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own) or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point. Silence is complicity.”
Trending on Billboard
In his posts, Ye also referenced Musk’s repeated use of a Nazi-like salute at a Donald Trump inauguration event in January, which was widely criticized. Musk responded to the backlash, telling critics they “need better dirty tricks.” “Elon stole my Nazi swag at the inauguration… yooo my guy get your own third rale,” Ye wrote, adding, “I can say Jew as much as I want. I can say Hitler as much as I want.”
Ye was initially banned from X (formerly Twitter) in October 2022 for antisemitic posts, briefly reinstated in November, then re-suspended later that month after he posted an image of a swastika intertwined with a Star of David. Eight months later, Musk reinstated West’s account once again.
Claiming he has no interest in “adjusting nothing I do or say for anybody,” West promised to “normalize talking about Hitler they [sic] way talking about killing ni–as has been normalized,” followed by “Hitler was sooooo fresh” and “call me Yaydolf Yitler.”
Amid Ye’s earlier embrace of Hitler and Nazi propaganda, experts spoke to Billboard about the dangers of someone with such a vast social media following promoting antisemitic tropes, especially at a time when hate crimes against Jews and Jewish institutions had reached alarming levels.
“At a time when the community is dealing with this level of hatred to have one of the most well-known entertainers in our culture making statements like ‘I like Hitler’ and showing up on [Jones’] InfoWars is not just vile and offensive, but it’s also endangering Jews by giving people permission to express that kind of prejudice,” Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said at the time. “People in the mainstream did not make such overtly awful, inflammatory comments before like this.”
HipHopWired Featured Video
Adan Manzano, a Kansas City reporter with Telemundo, was found dead in his hotel room in New Orleans over the weekend. Police have arrested a suspect in the case, who had a history of drugging men and robbing them.
NBC Sports reports that Adan Manzano, 27, was in New Orleans on behalf of Telemundo in Kansas City to cover Super Bowl LIX. The outlet adds that Manzano was seen on surveillance video from the hotel camera feeds from Feb. 5 that showed him walking into his room early on the morning of his death with the suspect, with the video showing the suspect leaving Manzano’s room unaccompanied.
Area police announced the arrest of Danette Colbert, 48, and a resident of Sidell, La. Colbert was arrested for attempting to use Manzano’s credit cards at several stores, and a subsequent search of Colbert’s home turned up Manzano’s phone, other credit cards, and drugs.
Source: Kenner Police Department / Kenner Police Department
Colbert was listed by authorities as a “career criminal” and was involved in what they also framed as “fraud schemes” in recent times. In 2022, Colbert was twice arrested in separate matters on felony charges of grand larceny and administering a drug to aid in a felony crime. The pattern explained by the outlet was that Colbert would target and drug men and then steal their personal items. In both cases, the men did not want to go on record and testify against her. It isn’t known if those cases occurred in New Orleans proper.
Telemundo KC took to their Facebook page and wrote a moving tribute in honor of Manzano.
“[Adan] was an exceptional professional and a rising star whose dedication and talent reflected excellence in his work. We will deeply miss Adam, his passion for sports and the contributions he made to the local community,” a portion of the post read.
Adan Manzano was a widower and single father, raising a 2-year-old daughter.
—
Photo: Getty/Telemundo KC/Kenner Police
Less than a week after stealing the show at the Grammy Awards and winning the best rap album trophy, Doechii brought her magnetic stage presence to the Big Easy with a late night performance at the House of Verizon activation during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans on Saturday night (Feb. 8). Explore Explore See […]
Anora appears to be the front-runner to win the Oscar for best picture. On Friday (Feb. 7) the film won the top award at the Critics Choice Awards. On Saturday (Feb. 8) it won the top prizes at both the Directors Guild of America Awards and the Producers Guild of America Awards.
The PGA Awards recognize the year’s best-produced features, documentaries, series and specials, as voted on by the PGA, which has more than 8,400 members. The 36th annual PGA Awards were held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Since its inception in 1990, the PGA Award for best theatrical motion picture has gone to the subsequent Oscar winner for best picture on all but 10 occasions.
Trending on Billboard
The correlation between the two awards has become even stronger since 2009, when both the PGA and the Academy Awards began using ranked-choice voting (sometimes called a preferential ballot). Since 2009, the PGA winner and the subsequent Oscar winner have agreed in all but three years. The last time the two award bodies diverged was in 2020, when the PGA award went to 1917, but the Oscars favored Parasite.
The PGA expanded the number of nominees for its top award from five to 10 in 2010, the same year the Oscars made a similar expansion.
The Greatest Night in Pop, a Netflix film about the 1985 “We Are the World” recording session, won outstanding producer of televised or streamed motion pictures. The film was nominated for three Primetime Emmys last year, including outstanding documentary or nonfiction special, and was nominated for a Grammy for best music film.
Saturday Night Live, now in its 50th season on NBC, won Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television, a remarkable feat for a show this deep into its run. It beat Ali Wong: Single Lady, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Wild Robot won Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures. It has won in the animated film category at most film awards shows and is considered the front-runner to win the Oscar for best animated feature.
Special awards were also presented to Chris Meledandri (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures – presented by Steve Carell), Dana Walden (Milestone Award – presented by Bob Iger), Taika Waititi (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television – presented by Jon Favreau), and Lynda Obst & Paula Weinstein (Trailblazer Award – presented by Jane Fonda and Kate Hudson).
The 2025 Producers Guild Awards event chairs are Mike Farah and Joe Farrell. The 2025 Producers Guild Awards were produced by Anchor Street Collective and written by Lauren Cortizo, Jody Lambert and Matt Oberg for the guild. Branden Chapman served as executive producer, and Carleen Cappelletti was co-executive producer.
Here’s the complete list of 2025 nominees by the Producers Guild of America, with winners marked.
Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
WINNER: Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance
Wicked
Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
Flow
Inside Out 2
Moana 2
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
WINNER: The Wild Robot
Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Drama
Bad Sisters
The Diplomat
Fallout
WINNER: Shōgun
Slow Horses
Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Curb Your Enthusiasm
WINNER: Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television
WINNER: Baby Reindeer
FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans
The Penguin
Ripley
True Detective: Night Country
Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures
Carry On
WINNER: The Greatest Night in Pop
The Killer
Rebel Ridge
Unfrosted
Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
30 for 30
Conan O’Brien Must Go
The Jinx – Part Two
WINNER: STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces
Welcome to Wrexham
Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television
Ali Wong: Single Lady
The Daily Show
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
WINNER: Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television
The Amazing Race
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
WINNER: The Traitors
The Voice
The following nominees were previously announced.
Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture
Gaucho Gaucho
Mediha
Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa
Porcelain War
WINNER: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
We Will Dance Again
Outstanding Children’s Program
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
WINNER: Sesame Street
SpongeBob SquarePants
Outstanding Short-Form Program
The Crown: Farewell To a Royal Epic
Hacks: Bit By Bit
The Penguin: Inside Gotham
Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime
WINNER: Shōgun – The Making of Shōgun
Outstanding Sports Program
Formula 1: Drive to Survive
Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants
Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend
WINNER: Simone Biles Rising
Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics
PGA Innovation Award
Critterz
Emperor
Impulse: Playing with Reality
WINNER: Orbital
The Pirate Queen with Lucy Liu
What If…? – An Immersive Story
Sabrina Carpenter, who took home her first Grammy awards last weekend, has given fans a glimpse at her celebratory night — on film. Featured in her photographs are industry peers Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Chappell Roan and Beyoncé, among others.
The Short n’ Sweet singer seemingly went to a Grammys after party also attended by Swift, Antonoff, Margaret Qualley and Amber Mark. She shared a snapshot of herself getting cozy with the group on a couch, and another in which Swift, wearing the jacket that she caught from Janelle Monáe during Sunday’s (Feb. 3) ceremony, embraces her with a big hug.
Trending on Billboard
Carpenter posted her pictures on Instagram on Friday (Feb. 7), captioning the collection “film from Sunday,” with a smiley face.
In the slideshow of 15 pictures is a shot of Carpenter with Roan, both with wide, ecstatic grins. Another special moment captured on film is the “Espresso” star getting a hug from album of the year winner Beyoncé.
Carpenter’s photos also document her glamorous Grammy Awards look: that backless, baby blue gown.
She left the 2025 Grammy Awards as a winner in the best pop vocal album and best pop solo performance categories.
Post-Grammys, Carpenter announced a deluxe edition of breakthrough album Short n’ Sweet, with Dolly Parton on a remix of “Please Please Please.” The deluxe release also features bonus tracks “15 Minutes,” “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder,” “Busy Woman” and “Bad Reviews.” It’ll be out on Feb. 14.
The original Short n’ Sweet debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in August. Three singles from the album charted on the Hot 100, led by “Please Please Please,” which reached No. 1.
Nelly brought his St. Louis swagger to a New Orleans institution, turning a nearly seven-decade-old restaurant into a Super Bowl week party.
The multi-Grammy winner packed Brennan’s on Friday night (Feb. 7), delivering a hit-filled set at h.wood’s “Homecoming.” As fans rushed the stage, pro football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and actor Jaleel White kicked back in the VIP area, while Flavor Flav enjoyed the show from a prime onstage spot.
Chainsmokers went on before Nelly, performing a number of their hits, from “Closer” to “Roses.”
Before Nelly’s appearance, attendees mingled for a few hours at the invite-only event. Once he arrived, many flocked toward the stage and pulled out their phones to capture his set.
Trending on Billboard
While Flavor Flav recorded him, Nelly went on to perform several jams including “Ride Wit Me,” “E.I.” and “Air Force Ones.” Many in the crowd recited the Kelly Rowland-sang chorus of “Dilemma,” which won a Grammy in 2003. Nelly also performed “Hot in Herre,” another Grammy winner in that same year.
The Homecoming show was a part of a night filled with other concerts across the New Orleans area before the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Shaquille O’Neal held his carnival-style Shaq’s Funhouse with Ludacris and John Summit headlining the concert. Some attendees included rapper Sexyy Red, football player Desean Jackson, NBA great Paul Pierce and Patrick Surtain II, who was recently awarded the NFL’s defensive player of the year honor.
Nelly recently performed at the Liberty Inaugural Ball, held for the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20. He commented on his decision to take part in the inauguration concert, saying, “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office, the same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever’s in office. So if they can put their life on the line for whoever in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever.”
A Complete Unknown, the James Mangold film about Bob Dylan in the 1960s, won best picture/best movie for grownups at AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards, which were held on Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event had originally been scheduled for Jan. 11, but was postponed due to the wildfires that spread across multiple neighborhoods of the Los Angeles area beginning on Jan. 7.
Alan Cumming, the Tony- and Primetime Emmy Award-winning host of the competition show The Traitors, returned as host of the show, which is in its 24th year. The awards are set to be broadcast by Great Performances on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on PBS, its website and the PBS app.
AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards was established to encourage films and TV shows that resonate with older viewers. On itssite, AARP adds that there is an age requirement for individual honors: “AARP honors 2024’s finest film and TV achievements by talents 50+.” (They go so far as to list ages in the winners list on their site.)
Trending on Billboard
That 50+ requirement explains why Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoë Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), who are winning most awards for best supporting actor and actress, respectively, weren’t nominated here. Culkin is 42. Saldaña is 46. It also explains why Timothée Chalamet wasn’t nominated for best actor for playing Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Chalamet is just 29 — a whippersnapper in AARP terms.
A Complete Unknown competed in the best picture category with Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Gladiator II and September 5. The Dylan biopic won a second award for best time capsule. It was the only double winner at the show.
The awards for best actor and best actress went to Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) and Demi Moore (The Substance), who seem to be the front-runners to win Academy Awards in those categories.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story won best documentary. The film, directed by Peter Ettedgui, tracks actor Christopher Reeve’s pivot from film star to activist for disability rights following a 1995 horse-riding accident. It triumphed in a tough category that had a greater than usual music emphasis. The other nominees were I Am: Celine Dion, directed by Irene Taylor, which focuses on the singer’s struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome; Luther Vandross: Never Too Much — directed by Dawn Porter, which traces the late R&B star’s life and career; Piece by Piece, directed by Morgan Neville, a journey through the life of Pharrell Williams, told through the lens of LEGO animation; and Will & Harper, directed by Josh Greenbaum, an intimate portrayal of friendship starring Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, friends of 30 years who go on a cross-country road trip.
Glenn Close was the Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Winner, their version of a lifetime achievement award.
Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2025 Movies for Grownups Awards, with winners marked.
FILM AWARDS
Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups
WINNER: A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Gladiator II
September 5
Best Actress
Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
Nicole Kidman (Babygirl)
WINNER: Demi Moore (The Substance)
June Squibb (Thelma)
Best Actor
WINNER: Adrian Brody (The Brutalist)
Daniel Craig (Queer)
Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
Jude Law (The Order)
Best Supporting Actress
WINNER: Joan Chen (Didi)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Nickel Boys)
Lesley Manville (Queer)
Connie Nielsen (Gladiator II)
Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
Best Supporting Actor
Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
WINNER: Peter Sarsgaard (September 5)
Stanley Tucci (Conclave)
Denzel Washington (Gladiator II)
Best Director
Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door)
WINNER: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
Edward Berger (Conclave)
James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
Ridley Scott (Gladiator II)
Best Screenwriter
Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Nicolas Livecchi (Emilia Pérez)
Jay Cocks and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)
WINNER: Winnie Holzman (Wicked)
Peter Straughan (Conclave)
Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts (Dune: Part Two)
Best Ensemble
A Complete Unknown
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
His Three Daughters
September 5
WINNER: Sing Sing
Best Intergenerational Film
Didi
Here
His Three Daughters
The Piano Lesson
WINNER: Thelma
Best Time Capsule
WINNER: A Complete Unknown
The Brutalist
Here
Maria
September 5
Best Documentary
I Am: Celine Dion
Luther: Never Too Much
Piece by Piece
WINNER: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & Harper
TV AWARDS
Best TV Series or Limited Series
The Crown
Hacks
Palm Royale
WINNER: Shōgun
Slow Horses
Best Actress (TV)
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
WINNER: Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)
Jean Smart (Hacks)
Meryl Streep (Only Murders in the Building)
Sofia Vergara (Griselda)
Best Actor (TV)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
Idris Elba (Hijack)
WINNER: Jon Hamm (Fargo)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
Hiroyuki Sanada (Shōgun)
Chelsea Handler made a Wicked joke about Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater that didn’t quite land with the audience at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards. Grande and Slater were seated side-by-side and posed for photos together at the event Friday night (Feb. 7).
Handler, who hosted the awards ceremony for the third year in a row, directed her attention toward the couple during Friday’s speech at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.
“It is so nice to see some of our beloved child stars all grown up and thriving. Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande are all nominated tonight,” Handler said, leading up to the joke.
Trending on Billboard
“And now, Ariana has even found love with a Munchkin,” she quipped, to a quiet response in comparison to the laughs she’d gotten elsewhere in her comedic speech. Grande’s been linked to Slater since 2023, when they met on the set of Wicked.
Handler attempted to quell the seemingly awkward reaction from the crowd, insisting, “That’s good news, everybody.”
Slater portrayed Boq, a character from Munchkinland, in the film.
The pop star and actor have mostly kept their relationship private. Grande was previously married to luxury realtor Dalton Gomez; the pair finalized their divorce in March 2024. Slater was previously married to therapist Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a young child; they settled their divorce in September 2024.
When it came time to mention Wicked star Cynthia Erivo in her speech, Handler heaped praise on her performance.
“My god,” the host said. “The most radical hero of any movie this year, or maybe even this decade. And not because you were green — because you were, and you are, epic, and it’s an honor to be in the same room as you.”
Then came a punchline involving Erivo and Grande: “I loved the Wicked press tour,” said Handler. “The two of them all over each other. I remember the first time I did molly.”
The Wicked team took home three honors at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards: Jon M. Chu won best director, Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales won for best production design and Paul Tazewell won for best costume design. The film was nominated for a total of 11 awards, including for best picture, which Wicked lost to Anora. Best actress went to Demi Moore (The Substance) rather than Erivo, while best supporting actress went to Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) rather than Grande.
See Handler’s bit about Grande and Slater in the clip from her Critics Choice Awards speech below.
