Chelsea Handler Roasts Leonardo DiCaprio for Yachting with Jeff Bezos at Critics Choice Awards 2026

Chelsea Handler kicked off the Critics Choice Awards 2026 with a hilarious jab at Leonardo DiCaprio. The comedian, hosting the event for the fourth year in a row, didn’t hold back in her opening monologue on Sunday, Jan. 4, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

“Leo’s here,” Handler said, pointing to DiCaprio, 51, who was sitting in the audience. “Thank God. Leo almost didn’t make it tonight because he was trapped on a boat in St. Bart’s. It was just like the Titanic, but worse, because Jeff Bezos was there.” The audience erupted in laughter at the playful dig.

Chelsea Handler roasts Leonardo DiCaprio for being stuck on a boat in St. Barts: “It was just like the ‘Titanic’ but worse because Jeff Bezos was there.” #CriticsChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/wjjAzogkcw

— Variety (@Variety) January 5, 2026

Handler’s joke referenced DiCaprio’s recent vacation in St. Bart’s with friends, including the billionaire, which coincided with air restrictions in the Caribbean following the U.S.-Venezuela conflict. The actor had to miss the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where he was set to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in One Battle After Another.

The 50-year-old host’s opening set the tone for the night, which highlighted the best movies and TV shows of the past year. This year’s top nominees included Sinners, leading the film categories with 17 nods, and Netflix’s Adolescence, topping TV with six nominations. Four new award categories were added in 2026: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Sound.

Handler has previously used the Critics Choice stage to address serious issues. Last year, the ceremony was postponed twice due to the devastating Los Angeles fires.

When the awards finally aired in February, she and the audience gave a standing ovation to firefighters and volunteers. Handler said at the time, “My hope for tonight is to take our time here together, and use it to remind each other and everyone watching of the resilience and determination that is within all of us when we come together as a community, with a huge debt of gratitude to our honored guests tonight, the firefighters, Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity volunteers.”

This year, Handler’s mix of humor and commentary reminded viewers why she remains a standout host.

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