'Cheeky' Onstage Moment Between Don Cheadle and George Clooney at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards Sparks Buzz

Netizens were howling with laughter and joy at the playful onstage moment, which at one point also included another A-lister.

Hollywood's brightest stars dazzled in glamorous and eye-catching ensembles to attend the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on January 11, 2026. However, two legends caught the public's attention for an entirely different reason than what they wore.

While presenting onstage, Don Cheadle and George Clooney shared a comedic exchange, commanding the spotlight with their humor and wit in a similar way the awards show host did during a different moment.

Clooney Tries to Take the Lead... But Cheadle's Got the Last Word

What began as a routine presenter segment quickly morphed into a scene-stealing bit of improv, thanks to the duo's effortless charm and comedic timing.

As the two longtime friends stood at the mic, Clooney tried to take the lead, stating, "I'm just gonna do the nominations now. Can I read those, okay?"

Cheadle, ever the cool counterpart, signaled his approval with a casual, "Have at it." But before stepping back, he offered one last line with both a tongue-in-cheek vibe and a playful jab — "Yeah, knock 'em dead, Batman."

The crowd chuckled, but it was the unexpected follow-up that truly set the tone: Cheadle gave Clooney a swift, cheeky slap on the backside, drawing a burst of laughter from the audience as Clooney turned with mock disbelief and a hint of theatrical discomfort.

Timothée Chalamet Gets Dragged Into the Roast

Moments earlier, the pair had already drawn laughs by pulling Timothée Chalamet into their banter. "Timothée, how — what are you? 29 now? 30?" Cheadle asked with faux curiosity, leaning into the mic.

When Chalamet confirmed he is now the big 3-0, the "Avengers" star didn't miss a beat. "30 years old. He was three the last time you won," Cheadle quipped, throwing another playful jab Clooney's way. The crowd erupted in laughter as Clooney shot back, insisting it hadn't been that long ago.

The friendly roast only amplified the chemistry between the presenters, setting the stage for the now-viral "Batman" line and perfectly timed butt slap that followed.

Fans Go Nuts over the Viral Zinger and Butt Slap

The hilarity was certainly not lost on viewers at home, many of whom took to social media to praise the moment for injecting some much-needed levity into the star-studded affair. One fan exclaimed, "cheeky! bravo, Don🤣 [sic]," while another declared, "THIS was the only funny moment in the show!!!❤️😂❤️."

Echoing a similar sentiment, someone else wrote, "This was so funny. Great comedic timing," with another chiming in succinctly, "Best line of the night."

Others found themselves particularly amused by the way Clooney appeared to take the roasting in stride. "lmfao clooney got buried [sic]," one person laughed, while another pointed out the zinger's impact, "'knock [sic] him dead Batman' is brutal."

Still, fans recognized that behind the jokes was a deep bond between the two Hollywood heavyweights. "Peak friendship: Getting roasted on stage by your best era. The burn just proves how deep the bond is.👍🏻👍🏻," observed one commenter.

Another viewer imagined an even grander comedic payoff, writing, "Would've been even more hilarious if the whole 'ocean [sic] 11' cast showed up on stage for a skit."

Nikki Glaser Brings the Heat with Razor-Sharp Host Monologue

While George Clooney and Cheadle's lighthearted antics stole the spotlight for many, they weren't the only ones earning praise that evening. Host Nikki Glaser also left a lasting impression, with her razor-sharp monologue and a closing tribute that struck a chord, adding yet another layer to a night that had its share of standout moments.

Her monologue took aim at big names, lit up social media, and ended with a nod to a late filmmaker, even in the absence of a formal in memoriam segment.

Glaser began with a jab at the recently released, heavily redacted Jeffrey Epstein files."It's insane. There's [sic] so many A-listers, and by 'A-listers,' I do mean people who are on 'a list' that has been heavily redacted," she said.

She followed it up with another punchline, "And the Golden Globe for best editing goes to the Justice Department."

Next, she turned to CBS News, the very network broadcasting the show, calling it "America's newest place to see BS News." This came shortly after CBS reportedly pulled a "60 Minutes" segment on the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants.

She also slipped in a shot at Warner Bros., using the ongoing bidding war between Netflix and Paramount as material while nodding to the success of "Sinners."

The online response was swift and positive. One Facebook commenter said, "Epic and fearless 🔥." Another typed, "This was probably the best opener I have seen in a LONG time!! She is funny, while also being so likable and endearing. Total talent."

A third added, "That deserved a standing ovation imo 🤣," while someone else remarked, "She gets award [sic] for best comment of the night."

One netizen found Glaser hilarious for fearlessly voicing what everyone else was secretly thinking. Another gushed over her, calling her "fabulous" and "So so funny."

Meanwhile, someone else imagined the tension in the room, picturing people nervously laughing at a joke that may have hit too close to home. A different viewer praised the entire bit as a "really solid monologue."

How She Closed Her Monologue

Glaser closed her Golden Globes monologue with a moment that struck a different tone from the rest of the night. In a quiet shift, she paid tribute to the late director Rob Reiner.

She slipped on a "Spinal Tap" baseball cap. "That's our show. This one went to 11," she said. "Thank you guys for an amazing night, and I hope we found the line between clever and stupid [sic]."

The emotional tribute came nearly a month after Hollywood was shaken by tragedy. Reiner and his wife were found dead in their Brentwood, California, home. Their son, Nick Reiner, has since been charged with their murders.

Before the show, Glaser spoke to USA Today about how she planned to recognize Reiner. "So there's not a whole section set aside to honor everyone we've lost," she said. "But I have something planned that I'm going to do in my own way to just acknowledge [Reiner] and celebrate him in my own way."

She spoke with care, noting she didn't know Reiner well, but still wanted to honor him properly. Glaser explained at the time:

"I'm not going to linger on it too much because I think that's what we've been doing for the past few weeks. But obviously, I thought if something happened to me and Rob Reiner was hosting a show, given our relationship, how would I want him to handle it? I think I landed on something that I feel he would do for me, too."

She also pointed to comedian and actress Chelsea Handler's recent tribute to the Reiners at the Critics' Choice Awards, describing it as a thoughtful example of how to handle such a moment with grace.

Beyond the stage, Glaser's star power is on the rise. She is attached to an upcoming Hulu comedy special and a romantic comedy film in development with Judd Apatow. She also serves as executive producer on the forthcoming scripted series "Unsettling," which is currently in production.

Her past credits span stand-up, reality TV, and talk formats. Additionally, she executive-produced and starred in "Nikki Glaser: Good Clean Filth" (2022) and "Nikki Glaser: Bangin'" (2019), both recognized for her blunt and fearless comedic style.

In unscripted television, she brought her voice to shows like "FBoy Island" and "Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?" blending sharp humor with personal insight.

Earlier in her career, she co-created and hosted "Not Safe with Nikki Glaser" and "Nikki & Sara Live," further establishing her range as both a comedian and a producer.