Nikki Glaser on the Art of the Roast: 'The Safest Place for Free Speech'

Key facts

• Nikki Glaser, 41, hosted the Golden Globes for the third consecutive year in 2027.
• She was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2026.
• Her new Hulu special 'Good Girl' premiered on April 24, 2026, a day after she hosted the TIME100 gala.
• Glaser's breakout moment came at the 2024 Netflix roast of Tom Brady.
• She has been a standup comedian for 22 years.
• Glaser grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where her parents E.J. and Julie still live.
• She appeared on 'Live With Kelly and Mark' in April 2026 and suffered a wardrobe malfunction.
• Leonardo DiCaprio sent Glaser a gift after she roasted him at the Golden Globes.

A Breakout Built on Research and Relentless Jokes

Nikki Glaser was already a seasoned comic when she reached a new audience by mercilessly roasting Tom Brady at the 2024 Netflix special "The Roast of Tom Brady." The performance, which she prepared for by reading Brady's book and watching his interviews, catapulted her to the Golden Globes hosting gig — a role she has now secured for a third year in 2027. "It's weird, because I don't know these people," Glaser told Willie Geist on TODAY's Sunday Sitdown. "I don't care about football, and I don't really know why (Brady) is so great. So I just had to do my research and read his book and watch all of his interviews, and just get to a place where I was like, 'Oh my God, Tom Brady.' Like, where I believed in it, and I understood how great he was, so that I can then dismantle him." Her zingers targeted everything from Brady's divorce from Gisele Bündchen to his failed cryptocurrency investments. "Tom Brady, five-time Super Bowl MVP, most career wins, most career touchdowns, you have seven rings. Well, eight now that Gisele gave hers back, but..." she said in one line.

From 'Good Girl' to Golden Globes: The Duality of Her Act

Glaser's new Hulu special, "Good Girl," premiered on April 24, 2026 — a day after she hosted the TIME100 gala, where she was also an honoree. The special explores the tension between being a "good girl" and speaking her truth, a theme she says resonates with her upbringing. "This material in the special is, like, it shows you both sides of it. You know, growing up as a woman, you're just told, like, 'You need to be a good girl and behave and fall in line,'" Glaser said on "Good Morning America." "And then there's this part of me that's always just loved speaking freely and openly and saying my truth, but then, you know, sometimes that just makes people think, 'Oh, she's naughty, she's bad.'" The special, filmed in her hometown of St. Louis with her parents in the audience, tackles aging, fame, and her sex life. "Usually when they come to my live shows I will literally say into the microphone, 'Hey Dad, you might want to go out to the merch booth and get a T-shirt right now for the next 15 minutes, I think you'd be safe,'" she said. "But for the special I couldn't really tell them to leave because we were at a taping, and I just had to disassociate, and they do, too."

Navigating Boundaries and the Power of Apology

At the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 26 in Los Angeles, Glaser discussed how comedy boundaries have changed and her willingness to apologize when needed. She reflected on the contrast between being modest and speaking her mind, a theme central to "Good Girl." "You can say all the things that are most shameful about you, and people will still like you. In fact, they'll like you more. So, I feel like I've taught them that, actually," she said, referring to her parents. Glaser also addressed the double standard around cosmetic surgery, joking in her special that procedures like facelifts can lead to better acting roles, more money, and higher praise. "It always frustrates me that when women do cosmetic surgery, they get kind of shamed of like, 'That's really sad you did that, your self-esteem is so low.' And it's like, 'Actually, it's going to pay off for me,'" she said.

Roasts as a Safe Space for Free Speech

Glaser has become a master of the roast, a format she considers the safest place for free speech in comedy. "I really think the safest place for free speech that we have is a roast, because the things that get said, you would be canceled for saying them anywhere else," she said. "It's your job to go there." Her ability to find the sweet spot — making audiences laugh and wince simultaneously — has defined her career. At the TIME100 gala, she famously roasted Victoria Beckham, asking, "What's it gonna take to get you to smile?" Beckham tried to fight off a laugh. Glaser has also received unexpected reactions to her jokes. Leonardo DiCaprio sent her a gift after she jabbed him at the Golden Globes, a gesture that indicated he took the joke in stride.

A Long Road to 'Overnight' Success

Despite her recent high-profile gigs, Glaser has been working in comedy for 22 years. She met her boyfriend, Chris Convy, over a decade ago while working on her MTV show "Nikki & Sara Live." She has said she "kinda likes it" when Convy hooks up with other women. Glaser recently moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis, Missouri, describing the experience as "relaxed" during an appearance on "Live With Kelly and Mark." The move reflects her desire for a slower pace, even as her career accelerates. Her parents, E.J. and Julie, have become accustomed to her raunchy material. "I've become immune over the years," E.J. Glaser told Willie on TODAY. "But when she first started doing this, we'd go to clubs with our friends. On the way out my friends would be like, 'Sorry, dude.'"

What Comes Next: Hosting, Specials, and the Future of Her Voice

With a third Golden Globes hosting gig secured for 2027, Glaser shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to push boundaries, both in her standup and in her public appearances. At the TIME100 gala, she was one of the honorees, a recognition of her influence. Glaser's "Good Girl" special challenges the narrative that women in entertainment fade by age 40. She pushes notions of authenticity in a world where desire is informed by algorithms, offering a stripped-back take on aging and relevance. As she continues to navigate the line between being a "good girl" and speaking her truth, Glaser remains a potent force in comedy — one who has turned roasts into a platform for unfiltered expression.

The bottom line

• Nikki Glaser's breakout at the 2024 Tom Brady roast led to her hosting the Golden Globes for three consecutive years, starting in 2025.
• Her Hulu special 'Good Girl' premiered on April 24, 2026, exploring the conflict between societal expectations of women and her own desire to speak freely.
• Glaser considers roasts the safest space for free speech in comedy, where jokes that would get someone canceled elsewhere are not only allowed but expected.
• She has been a standup comedian for 22 years, and her parents have learned to accept her raunchy material, with her father saying he has 'become immune.'
• Glaser moved from Los Angeles to St. Louis for a more relaxed lifestyle, even as her career reaches new heights.
• She was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2026 and hosted the TIME100 gala the night before her special debuted.