Nikki Glaser is staying away from this pretty woman.

During an interview on “CBS Mornings” Monday, the comedian, 41, revealed that Julia Roberts is the celebrity she’s most afraid of roasting at the upcoming 2026 Golden Globe Awards, which she’s hosting Sunday night.

“We have so many huge A-listers that I grew up really admiring, and it’s really for me to take down the newer batch of actresses and actors younger than me,” Glaser explained. “Like, ‘OK, I can make fun of you. I’m like a veteran.’ But when it’s like people I grew up admiring, it’s a different approach this year.”

Nikki Glaser returned to host the 2026 Golden Globes with a reputation for brutally sharp celebrity jokes. But even a comedian known for roasting Hollywood’s biggest names admitted that one particular A-lister made her nervous. During an interview before the ceremony, Glaser revealed that she was especially hesitant about roasting Julia Roberts. Her comments immediately attracted attention because Roberts is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable and beloved stars. Glaser also faced the unusual challenge of writing jokes for a room filled with powerful actors while keeping the audience entertained at home.

1. Julia Roberts Was the Celebrity Who Made Nikki Glaser Nervous

Nikki Glaser specifically identified Julia Roberts as the A-lister she was most afraid to roast during the 2026 Golden Globes. The admission was surprising because Glaser had already built a reputation for fearless celebrity comedy. Roberts’ enormous Hollywood status apparently made her a particularly delicate target. Glaser had to consider not only whether the joke would work with viewers but also how Roberts herself might react when sitting inside the audience.

2. Glaser Was Returning for Her Second Golden Globes Hosting Job

The 2026 ceremony marked Nikki Glaser’s second consecutive year hosting the Golden Globes. Her first hosting performance had established her as a strong awards-show comedian, creating expectations that she would once again deliver an aggressive opening monologue. Returning for another year meant she had to find fresh material while dealing with another room packed with major Hollywood personalities.

3. Julia Roberts Was Not the Only Huge Star on Her Radar

Glaser explained that several enormous celebrities were expected to be in the room, making the comedy-writing process especially complicated. Among the major names she had to consider were Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. Their celebrity status meant Glaser wanted to approach her jokes carefully rather than simply attacking every target with the same intensity.

4. The Biggest Challenge Was Making Jokes Without Creating Awkwardness

Awards-show roasting is different from ordinary stand-up comedy because the people being discussed are sitting directly in front of the comedian. Glaser acknowledged that a joke can look hilarious on paper but become uncomfortable if the celebrity appears genuinely upset. She therefore had to balance what viewers wanted with what would work inside the room.

5. Glaser Wanted Her Celebrity Jokes To Feel More Covert

Rather than making every joke an obvious attack, Glaser indicated that some of her material would be more subtle. Her approach involved delivering jokes that could land with television viewers without necessarily putting every A-lister directly under an intense spotlight. That strategy was particularly useful when dealing with celebrities she considered difficult or intimidating targets.

6. Glaser Had Already Become Famous for Roast Comedy

Nikki Glaser’s reputation made her Golden Globes role particularly interesting. She became widely known for her performance during The Roast of Tom Brady, where her aggressive comedic style attracted substantial attention. That history created expectations that she would not suddenly become completely gentle simply because she was hosting an awards ceremony.

7. She Still Believed Hollywood Stars Were Fair Game

Despite being nervous about certain celebrities, Glaser did not intend to abandon her trademark humor. Before the ceremony, she said essentially everyone was fair game, even discussing the possibility of joking about celebrities’ plus-ones. Her philosophy was that if the person receiving the joke laughed, that was enough reason for her to deliver it.

8. Julia Roberts Eventually Received a Gentler Treatment

The interesting part is that Glaser’s concern about Roberts became visible during the actual Golden Globes monologue. According to The Associated Press, Glaser softened her approach toward Roberts, whom she treated more gently than some other stars. This demonstrated that her pre-show comments were not merely promotional talk—she really did approach Roberts differently.

9. Leonardo DiCaprio Wasn’t Spared From the Jokes

While Julia Roberts received a softer approach, Leonardo DiCaprio became one of the celebrities targeted more directly during Glaser’s monologue. Her jokes touched on his well-known dating reputation, demonstrating that being a major A-lister did not automatically protect someone from her comedy.

10. The Moment Revealed How Difficult Awards-Show Comedy Really Is

Glaser’s comments highlighted an important reality about hosting major awards ceremonies: the comedian has to entertain two completely different audiences. People watching at home generally want sharper jokes, while celebrities sitting inside the venue may react differently when they become the target. Glaser described finding that balance as extremely difficult, making her hesitation around certain A-listers understandable.

FAQs

1. Which A-lister was Nikki Glaser most afraid to roast?

Nikki Glaser identified Julia Roberts as the Hollywood celebrity she was most afraid to roast at the 2026 Golden Globes.

2. Why was Nikki Glaser nervous about roasting Julia Roberts?

Roberts is an extremely recognizable and beloved Hollywood star, making her a particularly sensitive target for an awards-show comedian.

3. Did Nikki Glaser host the Golden Globes in 2026?

Yes. Glaser hosted the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026, returning for her second consecutive year.

4. Did Glaser actually roast Julia Roberts?

She did joke about Roberts, but her treatment was noticeably gentler than some of her jokes aimed at other celebrities.

5. Which other major celebrities did Glaser consider difficult targets?

Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn were among the other major A-listers Glaser discussed in connection with the challenge of writing jokes for the ceremony.

6. Why is Nikki Glaser known for celebrity roasts?

Glaser gained major attention for her performance on The Roast of Tom Brady and has subsequently become closely associated with sharp, insult-style comedy.

7. Did Glaser plan to avoid roasting celebrities completely?

No. She said that essentially everyone was fair game, although she recognized that certain celebrities required a more careful approach.

8. What makes Golden Globes roasting different from normal stand-up?

The celebrities being roasted are physically sitting in the room, so the comedian has to consider their reactions while simultaneously entertaining millions of viewers.