When Stars Throw Shade At Award Shows..

Top 20 Savage Celebrity Roasts At Award Shows

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the hilarious digs at pop culture figures during award ceremonies. We’re only including jokes aimed at individuals, so general jokes about Hollywood or, say, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association won’t be included.

#20: Emma Stone

“72nd Golden Globe Awards” (2015)
Never underestimate the comedic talents of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Especially when they’re given the reins of something like the Golden Globes. In the 2015 ceremony, they had plenty of ammunition with the art-focused biopic, “Big Eyes.”In fact, one of the paintings was on full display during the ceremony! Or, so they said. Cue the close-up on Emma Stone. While the actress is primarily known for her acting chops, her signature doe eyes made this roast impossible to pass-up. All things considered, Stone could do a whole lot worse than being compared to a famous Margaret Keane painting.

#19: Hugh Hefner

“68th Golden Globe Awards” (2011)
2011 was a big year for The Walking Dead, and we don’t just mean the show. As Ricky Gervais says himself, they should celebrate another kind of zombie in the audience: Hugh Hefner. Brace yourself, that’s not even the worst of it. Gervais went to congratulate the Playboy founder on his recent marriage to model Crystal Harris, making sure to bring up the sixty year age gap. Let’s just say Gervais pantomimes a very telling portrait of what that kind of relationship looks like in bed. If you want to know just how far he went, all you have to do is look at Robert De Niro’s reaction.

#18: Felicity Huffman

“77th Golden Globe Awards” (2020)
Say what you will about Ricky Gervais, but he sure knows how to get a reaction. For better or for worse. During the 2020 Golden Globes, he made a very pointed reference to Felicity Huffman’s time behind bars for her part in the celebrity college admissions scandal. It got a very vocal response from the crowd, to put it lightly. If Tom Hanks’ open mouth is any indication, it’s from equal parts shock, offense, and laughter. Gervais later clarifies that he actually feels sorry for Huffman’s daughter. But, after a roast like his, it’s Huffman herself who needs the fire extinguisher.

#17: Jason Bateman

“71st Primetime Emmy Awards” (2019)
Hosts are important for any kind of entertainment. They keep things on track, provide a sense of structure, and, if Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel are to be believed, they also listen to Jason Bateman’s family stories. That last part is a clear jab at the actor’s well-known tendency to be a chattermouth. Kimmel and Colbert even joke that Bateman’s told the exact same story on both of their talk shows. Ever the comedian, though, Bateman feigns offense throughout the whole thing, with hilarious results. Later that night, Bateman brushed off all the playful jokes by going home with the Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

#16: Ed Sheeran

“39th BRIT Awards” (2019)
There’s a lot of ways you could talk about someone as famous as Ed Sheeran. You could call him a singer, an artist, a Grammy winner, just to name a few. But, comedian Jack Whitehall never takes the easy joke, and his hosting of the 2019 Brit Awards was no different. When cueing up “Game of Thrones” actress Natalie Dormer as the next presenter, Whitehall brought up the most haunting scene in the HBO series - Ed Sheeran’s cameo. It’s not exactly a glowing review, but it does get its fair share of laughter. Whitehall returned to host the Brit’s two more times after this, so clearly, someone high-up appreciates his humor, too.

#15: Quentin Tarantino

“70th Golden Globe Awards” (2013)
Quentin Tarantino’s work has left an unshakeable legacy on Hollywood. Apparently, in ways even he couldn’t dream of. When Tina Fey took the stage at the 70th Golden Globe Awards, she politely pointed out some big faces in the crowd. Jennifer Lawrence. Julianne Moore. Oh, and Quentin Tarantino, who she introduces with a jaw-dropping admittance that you really just have to hear for yourself. There’s no way of knowing whether Fey meant his vulgar films, or Tarantino himself. She doesn’t clarify, but honestly, that might be for the best. The joke is already seared into our brains either way.

#14: Sam Smith

“38th BRIT Awards” (2018)
What’s a show without some entertainment? Unfortunately, musician Sam Smith got the wrong memo about their performance. They wasn’t just putting on a show - they were the show. Smith hadn’t even stepped on stage when host Jack Whitehall came at them with his signature brand of roast-heavy humor. In this case, it involved making some unfavorable comparisons between Smith’s music and Adele’s. You know Whitehall’s on the money because Smith can only bow their head in agreement as the crowd erupts into cheers around them. At the very least, getting mentioned in the same breath as Adele is a compliment either way.

#13: Matthew McConaughey

“66th Primetime Emmy Awards” (2014)
“True Detective” was an undisputed awards juggernaut, but by the time the Emmys finally came around, it was already old news for Matthew McConaughey. He’d won an Oscar a few months prior for his career-defining turn in “Dallas Buyers Club.” The actor clearly didn’t need any more awards, a fact that host Jimmy Kimmel hammered in on. He joked that the actor doesn’t even watch TV, and instead sold his television for some “recreational” means. For what it’s worth, McConaughey quickly tries to toss the blame on Woody Harrelson, but Kimmel isn't buying it. Ironically, the only thing Matthew McConaughey ended up winning that night was the award for most roasted.

#12: Colin Farrell

“67th Golden Globe Awards” (2010)
The thing about watching Ricky Gervais is that you’re always waiting for his next joke. But, at the 2010 Golden Globes, his speech about diversity and stereotypes didn’t just end with a punchline. It ended with Colin Farrell. The comedic timing of Gervais’ delivery is plain perfection, especially given the context. Farrell had won a Golden Globe the year prior for his portrayal of a drunken Irish hitman in the film “In Bruges.” Despite the smack-talk, the two hugged it out afterwards like good buds. Clearly, Farrell knew what he was getting into when he agreed to present in a show hosted by Ricky Gervais.

#11: Joe Pesci

“77th Golden Globe Awards” (2020)
Ah, there’s nothing quite like mixing topical memes with older celebrities! At the Golden Globes, host Ricky Gervais, not exactly known for holding back, purposely and jokingly confused the diminutive Joe Pesci with Baby Yoda, perhaps pop culture’s cutest and most popular character. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with Baby Yoda. We all love Baby Yoda, But when you’re in your mid-seventies, and happen to be one of the most accomplished actors of the last half-century, that comparison’s gotta sting.

#10: James Franco

“70th Golden Globe Awards” (2013)
If you didn’t watch the 2011 Academy Awards, then you missed one of the all-time greatest live TV fiascos. Seriously, that thing was a gold mine of cringe. And most of it stemmed from awkward and robotic co-host James Franco. Franco single-handedly ruined the entire night, while also making his co-host Anne Hathaway look bad. Luckily, she found some solace at the 2013 Golden Globes. While praising her award-winning performance in “Les Misérables,” host Tina Fey stated that she hadn’t seen someone “so alone and abandoned” since watching Hathaway host the Oscars with James Franco. All Anne could do was hang her head and try to hide a smile. She knew Tina was right. She just didn’t want to show it.

#9: Mark Burnett

“68th Primetime Emmy Awards” (2016)
Whether you love him, hate him, or somewhere in-between, Donald Trump’s presidency is historic, and both the issues and motivations behind his election will be studied for generations. The reasons are plentiful and cannot be aimed solely at one thing or person. But Jimmy Kimmel thinks we should target Mark Burnett. Burnett is the sole creator of “The Apprentice,” the show that made Donald Trump a reality TV sensation and arguably helped lead to his election. Kimmel singled out Mark Burnett at the 2016 Emmy Awards and directly blamed him for the Donald Trump “phenomenon.” After a lengthy rebuking, Kimmel claimed that Mark Burnett should be thrown over “the wall” if Donald Trump were to be elected. We now know how that turned out.

#8: “Some Famous Scientologists”

“68th Golden Globe Awards” (2011)
Scientology is a touchy subject of discussion for many people. But then again, this is Ricky Gervais we’re talking about here. The Golden Globes host referenced the movie “I Love You Phillip Morris,” in which straight actors Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor portray gay characters. He then says: “Sort of the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists then”. You can tell from Ricky’s face that he was nervous about telling the joke, and for good reason – it elicited audible gasps, groans, and some boos from the audience. We don’t know who Gervais was referring to specifically, but we’re sure you have your assumptions.

#7: Roseanne Barr

“70th Primetime Emmy Awards” (2018)
The 2018 Emmys were not especially memorable from a comedy standpoint. But hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che came equipped with at least one certifiable zinger. And it came at the expense of Roseanne Barr. Just four months before the ceremony, Roseanne made an extremely controversial tweet aimed at former President Obama’s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. Barr was quickly fired by ABC, and the revived “Roseanne” was canceled. The hosts briefly mentioned the controversy and joked that the show was later “picked up by white nationalists.” There’s no denying that is a powerful burn.

#6: Robert Downey Jr.

“68th Golden Globe Awards” (2011)
Robert Downey Jr. had a comeback for the ages. He is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood thanks primarily to his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But things weren’t looking so hot for the actor for quite a spell before that, And Ricky Gervais (yep, him again) isn’t the type of comedian to forgive and forget. While introducing Downey, Gervais made fun of his ostensibly racy-sounding movie titles and declared that the audience probably knew him best from The Betty Ford Clinic and Los Angeles County Jail. Luckily, Downey is the coolest dude ever and seemed to take the jab in stride, even clapping back.

#5: James Cameron

“70th Golden Globe Awards” (2013)
James Cameron is one of the most creative and innovative directors of all time, but by most accounts, he is a real pain to work with. Many people have reported difficulties working with Cameron, calling out his intense temper, annoying perfectionism, enormous ego, and confrontational mannerisms. So while praising Cameron’s ex-wife, noted director Kathryn Bigelow, for her film “Zero Dark Thirty,” which delved into big issues like war and torture, Amy Poehler let loose with a brilliantly pointed barb about James Cameron, evoking an uproarious reaction from the audience. Perhaps the best individual reaction was from Jessica Chastain, who was quite visibly (and hilariously) shocked by the comparison.

#4: James Corden

“77th Golden Globe Awards” (2020)
It’s no small secret that the 2019 adaptation of “Cats” coughed up a furball in just about every conceivable way. And yet, somehow, the movie wasn’t the only runt of the litter at the 2020 Golden Globes. In a truly shocking turn of phrase, host Ricky Gervais used “Cats” as a way to tell everyone how he really feels about actor James Corden. Gervais didn’t pull any punches, we’ll just leave it at that. It didn’t look like Corden was in the audience that night. But, considering the “Cats” situation and all the ruthless jokes at his expense, he probably dodged a bullet there.

#3: Bill Maher

“69th Primetime Emmy Awards” (2017)
With a host like Stephen Colbert, you should expect a fair share of political jokes. But it wasn’t just the politicians facing Colbert’s wrath – it was also the political commentators. Colbert listed off the night’s many African-American nominees, including Jeffrey Wright, Viola Davis, and . . . well, Bill Maher. Obviously, Maher is NOT African-American, but Colbert opined that he thought Maher should count, due to his use of the n-word. For those who don’t know or remember, Maher infamously dropped the word on his show “Real Time.” The audience reacted favorably to Colbert’s joke, but the funniest reaction came from Anthony Anderson, whose cackling was very hearty.

#2: George Clooney

“72nd Golden Globe Awards” (2015)
The 2015 Golden Globes was supposed to be George Clooney’s night, as he was being honored with the esteemed Cecil B. DeMille Award. But Tina Fey and Amy Poehler brought him and his accomplishments down a peg. They unfavorably compared Clooney to his wife Amal Alamuddin and her accomplishments, like being a human rights lawyer and working with the United Nations. It was a scathing take on congratulatory entertainment award shows, and it could have done some real damage to a lesser actor’s ego. Luckily, Clooney seems to be a humble man and tilted his head in agreeable acknowledgment. (xref) This wasn’t the first time Fey and Poehler took a dig at him, either…

#1: Mel Gibson

Multiple “Golden Globe Awards”
Gibson has been the subject of Gervais’s jabs for years, stemming all the way back to the 2010 show when Gervais took a stab at Gibson’s alcohol use disorder. Things got even worse the next year when Gervais joked about Gibson’s history with antisemitism while introducing Jewish actress Scarlett Johansson. Ricky found himself in a tight spot at the 2016 awards, as he was forced to introduce Gibson yet again. He acknowledged the awkwardness while still taking jabs at Gibson’s drinking, and he ended the ordeal by asking Gibson what his epithet meant. This seemed to be the final straw, as Gibson was left visibly distressed and annoyed by the question. You have to hand it to Gervais. He knows how to push buttons…

What’s the funniest roast you’ve ever heard at an award show? Let us know if it made our list in the comments below!