“Comedy is tragedy plus time,” they say, but in today’s hypersensitive world, timing is everything. Just ask Nikki Glaser, who took the stage at the 2025 Golden Globes and proved herself a natural at hosting—even if her humor occasionally strayed into dangerous waters. While her jokes landed with most, some were deemed too hot to handle.
Take, for instance, her quip about Adrien Brody being a two-time Holocaust survivor due to his roles in The Pianist and The Brutalist — a joke so bold that it teetered dangerously close to crossing the line.
Well, Glaser’s boldness was refreshing, but there’s no denying the delicate balancing act she was walking. But hey, if a joke doesn’t hit right, you just gotta laugh it off, right? After all, even the best of us slip up now and then.
Nikki Glaser’s controversial Adrien Brody joke: A line too far?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the jokes Nikki Glaser didn’t dare say.
Hosting an awards show isn’t exactly a walk in the park. In fact, it’s more like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches. Her debut as the Golden Globe host was a true spectacle.
She had the audience in the palm of her hand, playing with jokes about everyone from Nicole Kidman’s “Wild Robot” persona to Alec Baldwin’s career quirks (via THR). But even comedians who thrive on discomfort know where to draw the line—and Glaser was quick to realize some jokes might have been a little too much.
Her callback to Brody as a “two-time Holocaust survivor” certainly raised some eyebrows, especially considering it was tied to two movies about such a tragic time in history. The punchline?
If Adrien Brody could go back in time, he would thank baby Hitler for his career.
Then, there’s the infamous Holocaust survivor remark. For those who might not be familiar with the intricacies of dark humor, it’s easy to see how this could’ve stirred a hornet’s nest. Glaser’s line about Brody and baby Hitler was edgy, but she admitted to cutting it after realizing it might go over the heads of a younger audience. “We’re going to lose a whole generation on that joke,” she said, and honestly, she’s probably right.
Sometimes, you’ve got to be mindful of how humor ages.
The fear behind the punchline: Nikki Glaser’s cautionary take on political humor
Of course, Nikki Glaser isn’t just a performer—she’s a woman with opinions. In fact, she’s so opinionated that she’s started thinking twice about political humor. After the recent increase in threats against public figures (comedians included), she admitted (via NBC News) that cracking jokes about politics, especially about President Donald Trump, is a tricky game.
Like, you just are scared that you’re gonna get doxxed and death threats or who knows where this leads, like, detained. Honestly that’s not even like a joke.
The fear of being doxxed or detained for a punchline is, unfortunately, very real. Imagine being forced to play the victim card in the midst of a joke—that’s a price some comedians aren’t willing to pay.
It’s like a real fear. So it’s unfortunate that that’s true, but I’m not gonna lie and say I don’t think about that sometimes. … I can be up on the gallows and say, ‘I was just joking. I’m a comedian.’ I hope that that’s a defense.
While Glaser’s remarks about political satire may seem cautionary, she’s not alone. Many comedians, even in her social circle, like Sarah Silverman, have expressed similar anxieties.
Comedy should be a safe space for pushing boundaries, but when every joke feels like it could trigger a public backlash, it’s no wonder Glaser feels hesitant to speak her truth onstage.
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