Scrolling online on Sunday, Jan. 11, meant watching red carpet roundups bleed into footage of war crimes unfolding in real time. Headlines about Gaza, Iran, and the escalation in Venezuela nestled neatly between Golden Globes outfits, acceptance speech clips, and comedy bits. Somewhere between the fringe, fur, and feathers, the world started to feel like a grotesque circus. How did this become the norm we’ve collectively agreed to digest?
The 83rd annual Golden Globes packed in and spurred its usual share of entertainment: Best and worst dressed lists, viral clips, and extensive coverage of the year’s biggest stars; and yes, DiCaprio’s favourite food is still pasta. One Battle After Another and Hamnet brought home the top film awards, whilst Adolescence swept yet another award ceremony. The stars of Heated Rivalry became some of the most talked-about figures in attendance—despite not even being nominated.
What grabbed my attention, however, was the Globes’ aggressive promotion of gambling culture. Throughout the ceremony, the crypto-based, right-leaning prediction market Polymarket dominated our screens at home, egging viewers to bet on the nominees in real time. Since when does an awards show meant to celebrate the arts double as a sportsbook? Must every cultural event become yet another opportunity to cash out? Betting boards were also displayed inside the room, so nominees could see how little the betting public believed in them, along with everyone else in the room—a fun boost for the ego, that one.
Two-time host and comedian Nikki Glaser helmed the ship with confidence and playful quips, later admitting she held back on more politically inclined jokes. Remarks on Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the current state of the country’s politics were deemed too serious, too horrid to comment on without trivializing. Yet jabs at the Justice Department over edits to the Epstein files and at CBS News—on its own network—were fair game. The audience was charmed. Satire is always welcome, as long as it doesn’t wander too close to the fire, right? In a time where reality is already grotesque, choosing restraint doesn’t neutralize harm; it just sanitizes it.
Some stars did attempt to step close. Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, and others wore “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” pins to protest recent fatal ICE shootings against Renee Nicole Good and Keith Porter. Ruffalo spoke on the carpet, calling out Trump and ICE, admitting he couldn’t stay quiet in the face of ongoing horrors happening in the U.S. The gestures were sincere. They were also subtle enough that most viewers likely missed them entirely, small symbols and moments lost unless you already knew to look for them.
The award show further delegitimized itself through its soundtrack, having its stars walk onstage to nightclub songs. Stellan Skarsgård, just over 70 years old and accepting an award for the tragicomedy-drama Sentimental Value, received his award to the tune of Usher’s “Yeah!” The Secret Agent, a film about fascism, had to accept its win for Best Foreign Language Film to Rihanna’s “Pon de Replay.” Classy. Appropriate, even. The tonal whiplash didn’t just feel out of touch; it signalled a lack of respect for the work being honoured. Guess we’re trading the arts for the club in 2026?
Film and television are already under an industrial threat, as studios consolidate under streaming platforms and theatrical releases are sidelined. If these ceremonies serve any purpose beyond ridiculous spectacle, they should celebrate artistic achievements. Instead, the Golden Globes leaned into blatant cash grabs, sidelining long-standing categories like ‘Best Score’ in favour of a promotional UFC skit, courtesy of Paramount. Still, beneath the ugly, something remains worth salvaging: The artists and their labour. When every alarm is ringing at once, the least the room can do is acknowledge the fire waiting outside.
