Wanda Sykes leaves Golden Globes stunned after brutal jabs at Ricky Gervais and Bill Maher

Wanda Sykes delivered one of the most explosive moments of the 83rd Golden Globe Awards after taking aim at Ricky Gervais and Bill Maher in a blistering onstage roast that left parts of the audience visibly stunned.

The comedian stepped onto the stage at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday night to present the award for best performance in stand-up comedy on television. Before announcing the winner, she praised host Nikki Glaser, then launched into a series of sharp remarks that quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about segments.

“And shoutout to the Golden Globes for having me, because you know this, but people are pissed off that a queer Black woman is up here doing the job of two mediocre white guys,” Sykes said, drawing gasps and laughter from the room.

She went on to mock each of the nominees, which included Gervais, Maher, Brett Goldstein, Kevin Hart, Kumail Nanjiani and Sarah Silverman. However, her harshest jokes were aimed squarely at Maher and Gervais.

Turning to Maher, who was nominated for Is Anyone Else Seeing This?, Sykes quipped: “Bill Maher, you give us so much, but I would love a little less. Just try less.”

Cameras immediately cut to Maher in the audience, where he appeared visibly caught off guard.

Sykes then shifted her focus to Gervais, who was absent from the ceremony.

“Ricky Gervais, I love you for not being here,” she said. “No, I love you, Ricky, but because if you win, I get to accept the award on your behalf, and you are going to thank God and the trans community.”

The comment referenced Gervais’s public atheism and the backlash he faced over his 2022 stand-up special SuperNature, which was criticised by LGBTQ groups for its jokes about trans people.

Moments later, Sykes got the last word when Gervais was announced as the winner for his Netflix special Mortality.

“And the Golden Globe goes to Ricky Gervais,” she said. “Because he would like to thank God and the trans community. Ricky Gervais could not be here, so we will accept this on his behalf.”

The moment quickly went viral, becoming one of the most replayed clips from the ceremony and sparking immediate reactions across social media.