Viewers of the 2026 Golden Globes have expressed widespread disappointment over what many have labelled a 'severely lacking' and 'tepid' tribute to the late, celebrated Hollywood director Rob Reiner.
A Subtle Nod Sparks Major Backlash
The controversy erupted at the close of the ceremony on January 11, 2026. Host Nikki Glaser concluded the show with a subtle reference to Reiner, who, along with his wife Michele Singer, was found dead at their Los Angeles home in December 2025. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Glaser appeared on stage in the final moments wearing a black baseball cap emblazoned with 'Spinal Tap', a nod to Reiner's iconic 1984 mockumentary. Her closing line, 'Well, that’s our show. This one went to 11', referenced a famous scene from the film. She added, 'I hope we found the line between clever and stupid.'
However, for many watching, this brief gesture fell woefully short of honouring a filmmaker of Reiner's stature, whose prolific career included classics like The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally..., and A Few Good Men, earning him nine Golden Globe nominations.
Social Media Erupts Over Omission
The reaction on social media platform X was swift and critical. One user, AbsolutelyMalc1, posted: '"This one went to 11" is the most tepid Rob Reiner tribute imaginable. Literally a room full of people who knew him and that’s what they did.' Another viewer simply stated: 'The so-called Rob Reiner tribute just being Nikki Glaser wearing a Spinal Tap hat.'
The segment also reignited the ongoing debate about the Golden Globes' longstanding policy of not airing a dedicated In Memoriam segment during its broadcast. The ceremony has opted out of this tradition for years, choosing instead to honour deceased industry figures on its website.
Some viewers acknowledged the subtlety. 'The Spinal Tap cap was a classy nod to Reiner,' one comment read. Yet others, like user Jeremy, questioned the broader omission: 'It’s nice that Nikki Glaser did a small tribute... but when did Golden Globes stop doing an In Memoriam??? Because there were some pretty notable folks that died this past year.'
Host's Intentions and Industry Tributes
Prior to the ceremony, Glaser had hinted at her plans in an interview with USA Today. Acknowledging the lack of a formal memorial segment, she said: 'I have something planned that I’m going to do in my own way to just acknowledge him and celebrate him.' She explained her approach was designed not to 'linger on it too much', drawing from how she believed Reiner would have handled a similar situation.
The tribute at the Golden Globes stood in contrast to the homage paid at the Critics Choice Awards on January 4, 2026. There, host Chelsea Handler opened the show with a heartfelt personal anecdote about Reiner, praising him as 'the nicest guy in Hollywood' and honouring the decency he and his wife represented.
Following his death, a joint statement from friends and collaborators including Billy Crystal and Martin Short celebrated Reiner as a 'master storyteller' and described the couple as 'dynamic, unselfish and inspiring'.
The 2026 Golden Globes were dominated by wins for films like Hamnet (Best Drama) and One Battle After Another (Best Comedy/Musical), and TV series such as The Pitt and Adolescence. Yet, for many, the lasting talking point was the ceremony's contentious handling of remembering one of cinema's greats.
