The 2025 Webby Awards theme might have been “All Good,” because the annual ceremony celebrated the most effective of the web from the previous 12 months, however host Ilana Glazer wasn’t shy about going after politics or the extra problematic parts of know-how.
Glazer kicked off the night by joking that the “All Good” theme was chosen as a result of another like “‘The Broligarchy’s Rushing of the Onslaught of Facism within the Face of the Local weather Disaster on the Level of No Return’ would have bummed all people out.”
As she continued her monologue, Glazer spoke concerning the continued uncertainty across the destiny of TikTok and joked that Sign is the app that ought to actually be banned.
“TikTok and the Trump administration had been the Ross and Rachel of social media — an actual will they, received’t they,” Glazer joked. “They banned it after which they rapidly introduced it again. Now they’re speaking about banning it once more. Decide already. There are ladies on the market who want folks to prepare with them. If we’re going to ban something, ban Sign. Nobody’s ever making warfare plans on TikTok. The closest factor to warfare plans on TikTok is a thin bitch doing a ‘what I eat in a day.’ Pete Hegseth actually did use Sign to coordinate warfare plans after which unintentionally included a journalist on the group chat. Sign is for organizing protests and ordering medicine. Possibly that’s what he was making an attempt to do? Possibly ‘bombs’ is his seller’s code phrase for cocaine?”
Earlier on the Webby Awards‘ crimson carpet, Glazer previewed to The Hollywood Reporter that she did certainly plan to handle the present political local weather throughout her time onstage.
“I undoubtedly shall be bearing on the onslaught of fascism a number of instances,” Glazer mentioned forward of the New York occasion. “That’s actually all I’ve to say. I’m probably not involved with people or naming names. I need to title the system that’s endangering us all and uplift the people who find themselves working to withstand it.”
However Glazer was additionally blissful to rejoice the “inventive folks main the tradition who’re actively making good on the web,” as she mentioned throughout her monologue.
Earlier, she teased that as host, she hoped to “create an area the place everybody feels included and excited to rejoice themselves.”
When Glazer was introduced as this 12 months’s host, the Webby Awards famous that her five-season Comedy Central present Broad Metropolis started as an internet collection. And she or he instructed THR that she nonetheless sees on-line platforms as locations for inventive freedom.
“The web is a spot the place creatives and artists can put issues out into the world with out ready for somebody to inform them sure or no,” Glazer mentioned. “I nonetheless really feel that approach about placing issues out.”
Honoree Amelia Dimoldenberg, who acquired a particular achievement prize, used her five-word acceptance speech, a Webby Awards hallmark, to encourage others to make the most of the ingenuity supplied by digital platforms.
“Don’t wait. Make it your self,” Dimoldenberg mentioned, accepting her Webby from Scorching Ones‘ Sean Evans, who has additionally reconceived the format of the celeb interview on-line.
Earlier, Dimoldenberg, who, along with her Rooster Store Date net collection, has been interviewing folks for the Oscars and different Movie Academy occasions, instructed THR that she was particularly appreciative of the Webbys recognizing digital content material.
“Generally I really feel like as individuals who make movies on-line, it’s not taken severely and I feel it’s superb that an award like this exists to credit score the entire exhausting work that we do,” she mentioned.
As for developing along with her five-word speech, Dimoldenberg mentioned it was “fairly simple” in comparison with the bridesmaid speech she has been engaged on for her greatest pal, which she mentioned is “a lot tougher.”
Along with Dimoldenberg, this 12 months’s honorees included Snoop Dogg, whose speech was “Break bread or pretend useless,” Walton Goggins (speech: “If it occurs, be grateful”) and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (speech: “Solely organized outrage overcomes oppression”).
This 12 months was the primary Webby Awards for each a brand new group of creator classes and not too long ago appointed govt director Jesse Feister.
“What I like most concerning the web is that it offers gifted, self made, inventive folks a approach in. And tonight’s winners are proof of that,” Feister mentioned partially throughout his remarks onstage.
Noteworthy winners this 12 months included Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Selena Gomez, Gracie Abrams, Keke Palmer, Jimmy Fallon, Taika Waititi, Simone Biles and Andrew McCarthy‘s Brats documentary, wherein he reunites along with his fellow Brat Pack members Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy and Rob Lowe.
McCarthy, who declared “Lengthy reside the Brat Pack” onstage, instructed THR he was blissful each to be acknowledged (“each time anyone’s good to you, it’s good”) and to see the ’80s reunions proceed with the solid of The Breakfast Membership gathering in Chicago not too long ago.
“It’s implausible,” he mentioned. “I feel it’s been a protracted highway, the connection that folks had with that early success, so it’s good for everybody to come back round and understand for a sure technology there’s a lot goodwill again.”