Chelsea Handler’s remarks alluded to the continuing authorized battle that started in December, when “Gossip Woman” alum Blake Vigorous accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and emotional misery throughout the filming of “It Ends With Us,” prompting Baldoni to countersue Vigorous and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation.
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Chelsea Handler Takes A Jab At Justin Baldoni And Blake Vigorous’s Authorized Feud In Critics Selection Awards Monologue
The comic framed their bitter feud as an surprising silver lining amid President Donald Trump’s second time period, joking that it’s offered a much-needed break from the each day information cycle.
“Waking up day by day, not understanding what information we’re going to hear that may disappoint or horrify us. So, it’s vital, in instances like these, to have a distraction. And that’s why I need to personally prolong my gratitude to Justin Baldoni and Blake Vigorous,” Handler quipped, including:
“Thanks for offering us with that distraction. I’m grateful. I feel we’re all grateful, and I feel we’re good. I feel all people on this room, regardless of whose aspect you’re on, we are able to all agree to just accept that there’s in all probability not going to be a sequel.”
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The continued dispute has captivated Hollywood, drawing sharp divisions amongst followers and trade insiders.
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Justin Baldoni And Blake Vigorous Obtain A Trial Date

“If this case continues to be litigated within the press, I’ll transfer up the trial date,” Liman said, emphasizing the necessity for authorized proceedings to happen within the courtroom relatively than the media.
To stop additional media affect on the case, Liman ordered each events to observe the New York Guidelines of Skilled Conduct, which prohibits legal professionals from making public statements that would bias a jury. Regardless of accusations from Vigorous’s workforce that Baldoni’s legal professional, Bryan Freedman, has made “extrajudicial statements” that come near defamation, the choose has stopped in need of issuing formal sanctions.
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Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater In Chelsea Handler’s Line Of Hearth

Baldoni and Vigorous weren’t the one targets of Handler’s sharp wit. Later in her speech, she poked enjoyable at Ariana Grande’s relationship together with her “Depraved” co-star Ethan Slater, making a reference to his Broadway previous.
“It’s so good to see a few of our most beloved little one stars all grown up and thriving. Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande are all nominated tonight. And now Ariana has even discovered love with a munchkin,” Handler joked, referencing Slater’s position in “Depraved.”
The joke, nonetheless, didn’t appear to land as anticipated, with the viewers providing solely delicate laughter. Noticing the lukewarm response, Handler reassured the gang, saying, “That’s excellent news, all people.”
Based on PEOPLE, the cameras panned to Grande and Slater, who regarded “lower than amused” by the comment.
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Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater’s Controversial Romance

Grande and Slater’s relationship has confronted ongoing scrutiny ever since they have been first linked in 2023.
The backlash stemmed largely from the timing of their romance, as Slater had lately divorced his spouse, main many followers to query the circumstances of their relationship.
In an October 2024 interview with GQ, Slater admitted that coping with the general public criticism has been difficult. “So simply to handle that a part of it, that feels actually arduous,” he mentioned on the time.
Ariana Grande Speaks Out On Her Relationship

In the meantime, Grande has been vocal in defending her boyfriend from the adverse consideration. In September 2024, the “Honeymoon Avenue” singer gushed about Slater, insisting that “nobody on this earth has a greater coronary heart.”
“And that’s one thing that no bullsh-t tabloid can rewrite in actual life,” she added.
Chelsea Handler has by no means been one to shrink back from controversy, and her Critics Selection Awards monologue was no exception. From authorized feuds to relationship drama, she made positive to go away no Hollywood scandal untouched.