Chelsea Handler took aim at Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s ongoing beef in her Critics Choice Awards monologue on Friday, calling their never-ending legal feud a welcome “distraction” amid President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
“Waking up every day, not knowing what news we are going to hear that will disappoint or horrify us. So, it’s important, in times like these, to have a distraction. And that’s why I want to personally extend my gratitude to Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively,” said Handler.
“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 that there’s probably not going to be a sequel.”
Lively and Baldoni have been embroiled in a legal battle since December, when the “Gossip Girl” alum accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and causing her emotional distress while filming their movie “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni, 41, is countersuing Lively, 37, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation.
Elsewhere in her speech, Handler, 49, poked fun at Ariana Grande’s relationship with her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater, 32.
“It is so nice to see some of our most beloved child stars all grown up and thriving. Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande are all nominated tonight. And now Ariana has even found love with a munchkin,” Handler joked.
After few people in the audience laughed, Handler assured them, “That’s good news, everybody.”
Slater and Grande looked “less than amused” by Handler’s joke when the camera panned to the pair, according to People.
It’s not unusual for the couple to have their relationship criticized. Shortly after Grande and Slater started dating, many fans made comments about the timeline of their relationship and Slater’s “sudden” divorce.
In October 2024, Slater told GQ magazine that navigating the negative comments from the public regarding his high-profile romance with Grande has been “difficult.”
“There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love,” said Slater.
“So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard.”
Grande, 31, has also fiercely defended her boyfriend from critics. In September 2024, the “Honeymoon Avenue” singer gushed about her new beau, saying there’s “no one on this earth with a better heart.”
“And that is something that no bulls–t tabloid can rewrite in real life.”
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