At the 2025 Golden Globes, Nikki Glaser became a historic figure-arguably its first solo hosting female-slinging into audiences her slices of sharp humor and wit. Besides the laughter and chuckles, Glaser has somehow pulled off sparking yet another big discussion, this time revolving around Hollywood: gender pay disparity.
Appearing on The Howard Stern Show, the 40-year-old comedian revealed that she pulled in less than the $500,000 reportedly raked in by Jerrod Carmichael for his hosting gig at this year’s Golden Globes.
While Glaser refused to disclose her exact paycheck, sources close to her indicate that she earned a little over $400,000. Though the figure was less than what she had expected, Glaser remained upbeat, saying, “I feel well paid for what I do. I’m alright.” She even joked that she would have hosted the ceremony for free, emphasizing the platform’s significance.
This earned Glaser much widespread acclaim for her gutsy style as the first solo female host in history. Her opening monologue targeted Hollywood’s A-listers, and reactions abounded. Among the highlights were her jabs at Ben Affleck, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“Diddy’s credit card has more sexual tension than most Hollywood movies,” Glaser quipped in nod to the music mogul’s salacious headlines. The 58-year-old comedian then punched below the belt with a racy joke about RFK Jr, declaring, “The Bear, The Penguin, Baby Reindeer – these aren’t just found in RFK’s freezer!
The audience went from laughing to awkward chuckles, and social media went wild in response. One user cheered for her boldness: “Finally, someone roasted Hollywood to their faces! Glaser killed it.” Others were more critical, particularly in regard to the jokes about Diddy. A lot of viewers felt that the jokes on him were not appropriate in light of some serious allegations made against him.
Glaser’s turn came after Jerrod Carmichael’s self-aware, somewhat divisive hosting gig in 2023, in which he confessed to taking the gig for the money. Jo Koy’s 2024 monologue was widely panned, with social media branding him “the worst host ever.” Against this backdrop, Glaser’s sharp humor felt like a refreshing pivot, even as it divided opinions.
Her monologue reeked of her standup roots in celebrity roasts, mixing barbed wit with self-deprecating charm. “You can do anything in this room,” she joked to the star-studded audience, “except tell the country who to vote for. But it’s okay.
The Golden Globes remain a major platform for honoring excellence in film and television, with the awards season beginning in glitz and glamour. Glaser’s hosting debut marked not just a milestone for female comedians but also a call to address the pay gap in entertainment. The rumors are already abuzz that she may be invited to host the 2026 Golden Globes, but Glaser let on that the next time around won’t come cheap: “I’ll get more next year,” she said matter-of-factly, signaling her expectations for fairer compensation if invited back.
