Mon Feb 10 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Chelsea Handler’s Critics Choice Joke Backfires Amidst Lively-Baldoni Lawsuit
**Santa Monica, CA** – Chelsea Handler’s opening monologue at Friday night’s Critics Choice Awards sparked controversy. While acknowledging the recent wildfires and national anxieties, Handler thanked Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni for providing “a distraction,” referencing their ongoing high-profile legal battle. The comedian’s remarks, well-received by the live audience, drew criticism online for trivializing the serious allegations of sexual harassment and counter-claims of extortion and defamation between the two actors. Neither Lively nor Baldoni attended the ceremony.
The awards themselves saw Demi Moore take home Best Actress for her role in *The Substance*, furthering her momentum in the Oscars race. Moore’s win came amidst controversy surrounding a rival nominee, Karla Sofia Gascon, whose past tweets caused a backlash. Despite this, *Emilia Perez*, Gascon’s film, secured several awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldana. *Anora*, a film about a stripper marrying a Russian oligarch’s son, surprisingly won Best Picture, significantly impacting the Oscars race. Other notable wins included Adrian Brody (Best Actor for *The Brutalist*) and Jon M. Chu (Best Director for *Wicked*). *Conclave* won Best Adapted Screenplay.
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