Filmmaker and comedian Judd Apatow brought humor and surprise to the 2026 Golden Globe Awards while presenting the Best Director award. During his speech, Apatow joked that he had been quietly boycotting the Golden Globes for the past 10 years. He explained that his “boycott” started in 2016 after his film Trainwreck lost the Best Comedy award to Ridley Scott’s The Martian. His comments quickly got laughs from the audience and became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
Judd Apatow Jokes About 10-Year Golden Globes Boycott
Apatow humorously said that no one even noticed his boycott, calling it a “very quiet boycott.” He teased director Ridley Scott by calling him “America’s favorite comedy director” and jokingly listed Scott’s serious films like Gladiator, Blade Runner, and Alien as “hilarious comedies.” The audience enjoyed Apatow’s playful sarcasm, which highlighted long-standing debates about what truly qualifies as a comedy in awards shows.
Continuing his speech, Apatow made more jokes about the current state of the world. He said that a lot had changed in the last 10 years, mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic and joking, “I believe we’re a dictatorship now.” Despite all the changes, he admitted that he was still stuck on losing to The Martian, which made the crowd laugh even more.
Before announcing the Best Director nominees, Apatow said he wanted to set a good example and “start the healing.” He said he was ready to move on from old grudges and joked about ending his long-running beef. He then presented the Best Director award to Paul Thomas Anderson, who won for his film One Battle After Another. The moment ended on a positive and light-hearted note.
The comedy versus drama debate has long been a topic in Hollywood awards seasons. Shows and films like The Bear, which deal with serious themes but compete in comedy categories, continue to confuse audiences and creators alike. Apatow himself has received only one Golden Globe nomination in his career, for co-writing the song “Walk Hard” from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. His speech once again showed how humor can spark conversation while keeping award shows entertaining.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
