At the recent Golden Globe awards ceremony, tensions ran high as comedian Nikki Glaser opted not to include jokes pertaining to the ongoing legal battle surrounding Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s adaptation of “It Ends With Us.” Glaser, known for her unfiltered and provocative sense of humor, declined to address the controversy, citing that the topic was “too hot button” for her comfort. The lawsuit, filed by author Colleen Hoover, alleges that the film adaptation infringes on her rights to her own work, “It Ends With Us.” Despite the highly publicized nature of the dispute, Glaser chose to maintain a diplomatic tone, focusing her comedic monologue on lighter aspects of award season celebrations.
Writers often tread carefully when it comes to addressing litigation in their work, especially for live performances like comedy roasts and awards shows. In this case, Glaser chose to steer clear of the sensitive subject matter, to the surprise of many in attendance. “It’s not often that we see comedians self-censor on such a large platform,” remarked fellow comedian, Kevin Hart, while backstage at the Golden Globes. Golden Globes organizers congratulated Glaser on her responsible approach to comedic timing in an emotionally charged industry.
As the entertainment world continually grapples with matters of copyright infringement and prominently-figured litigants, events like the Golden Globes offer a platform for addressing such contentious matters with a balance of humor and respect. Glaser’s decision to refrain from making jokes about the “It Ends With Us” legal battle illustrates the importance of being mindful of the impacts that our words can have, especially in the presence of an ongoing dispute.
