Judd Apatow took the stage at the 77th annual Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards with his signature blend of humor and sharp commentary, tackling everything from politics to pop culture. Hosting the event for the sixth time since 2018, Apatow wasted no time in addressing the elephant in the room—America’s sharp turn to the right since the last DGA Awards. With his trademark wit, he poked fun at Hollywood’s eagerness to embrace diversity and progressive causes, now under fire from President Donald Trump and his far-right allies. “My new pronouns are ‘We’re fucked,’” Apatow quipped, setting the tone for a monologue that was equal parts irreverent and incisive.
Apatow didn’t hold back when it came to Trump, imagining a world where even he might have to cater to the MAGA crowd. “Maybe I should make TV that MAGA people would like: The Real Housewives of January 6,” he joked, drawing a thunderous reaction from the audience. He even playfully suggested Trump’s influencers might join Elon Musk on a Mars colony, envisioning a scenario where figures like RFK Jr., Jeff Bezos, Brett Kavanaugh, and Peter Thiel leave Earth behind. Apatow painted a utopian picture of their absence: “We realize we don’t miss them. We didn’t need crypto currency. We don’t need AI. One day we look at the sky and we can see the skies.” He even threw in a few fantastical twists, like Britney Spears turning the tables on her father and pandas repopulating the planet.
Apatow also turned his sights on the box office and Hollywood’s inner workings. He highlighted the success of Wicked, a Universal musical that dominated the holiday season and awards circuit. “Usually to make this much money you have to sue Blake Lively,” he said, referencing the heated legal battle between Lively and director-star Justin Baldoni over It Ends With Us. Apatow didn’t spare himself either, comparing his aging to Mel Brooks’ character in The Substance, a psychological horror film about an aging star chasing youth. His self-deprecating humor added a layer of relatability to his broader commentary on the industry.
Elon Musk became another target of Apatow’s jokes. After Musk posted a meme comparing himself and Jeff Bezos to the characters from Apatow’s 2008 comedy Stepbrothers, the filmmaker fired back, “He doesn’t understand the premise of that film. It’s about two fucking morons.” Apatow continued to roast Musk, imagining him on a Mars colony with other controversial figures and joking about the world’s improvement in their absence. At one point, he even took a direct shot at Musk during the ceremony, telling Tesla Cybertruck owners in the parking lot to “go fuck yourself.”
Throughout the evening, Apatow seamlessly wove together his sharp observations on politics, culture, and the entertainment industry. His ability to balance humor with biting commentary underscored his status as a master of both comedy and social critique. His jokes about the absurdity of modern life—whether it was the antics of billionaires, the chaos of politics, or the quirks of Hollywood—resonated with the audience.
As the DGA Awards concluded, Apatow left the audience with plenty to think about, his monologue serving as a reminder of the power of comedy to challenge and reflect the world around us. His ability to tackle tough subjects with humor highlighted the role of artists in shaping cultural conversations. With his incomparable wit and unflinching honesty, Apatow once again proved why he’s one of Hollywood’s most compelling voices.
