Chelsea Handlerâs provocative joke comparing First Lady Melania Trump to the film Anora during her hosting stint at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards drew immediate backlash, including reports of boos from the audience. The comedianâs remark highlighted ongoing political tensions in Hollywood events.
The Controversial Joke
Handler, emceeing for the third year, opened her monologue by noting, âIt was a huge year for biopics ⊠âAnora,â about Melania Trump.â Anora, a 2024 film, centers on a young sex worker from Brooklyn who marries an oligarchâs son, prompting interpretations of the quip as implying Melaniaâs past involved sex work. The line landed amid a politically charged atmosphere, with President Donald Trump recently reelected and targeting DEI initiatives, which Handler also mocked by calling herself the âDEI host.â
Audience Reaction
Videos and reports indicate the joke elicited groans and a âsea of boosâ from the Barker Hangar audience in Santa Monica, rescheduled due to LA wildfires. Social media amplified the moment, with conservative users slamming it as âdisrespectfulâ and âweak,â while others defended Handlerâs edgy style. Recent clips resurfaced the incident ahead of her 2026 hosting gig, reigniting debates about celebrity commentary on political figures.
Broader Monologue Context
Handler roasted other targets, including Cheryl Hinesâwife of Trumpâs HHS nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.âcomparing losers to âCheryl Hines at a Senate confirmation hearing,â and Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni drama as a needed âdistraction.â She began seriously, honoring wildfire first responders and promoting relief donations. The event honored films like Wicked and Conclave, but political jabs dominated headlines.
Online Backlash and Renewal
Critics online called Handler ânot funnyâ and urged better material, while supporters saw it as classic satire. The joke trended again in late December 2025, sparking fresh discourse on celebrity politics post-Trumpâs inauguration. Handler has a history of Trump family barbs, but this one underscored Hollywoodâs divide on how far political humor should extend.
