Marc Malkin – a red carpet host for Variety – has come under fire after an awkward interview with Ariana Grande on the red carpet during the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday.
The journalist, who is the senior culture and events editor for the outlet, talked to a number of celebrities before the main ceremony kicked off at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
While speaking to the Wicked actress, 31, Malkin made some fans feel ‘uncomfortable’ for his ‘cringe’ interaction with Ariana as he attempted to make her sing on the red carpet.
‘I want you to sing for me a little bit. I’ll sing with you,’ he told her as the star replied with a shy, ‘Oh my goodness, no!’
Grande then added, ‘What should we sing? I want you to start,’ followed by a brief pause.
Malkin then turned towards Ariana as he began to sing lyrics to You’ve Got A Friend by Carole King.
Marc Malkin – a red carpet host for Variety – has come under fire after an awkward interview with Ariana Grande, 31, on the red carpet during the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday
While speaking with the Wicked actress, Malkin made some fans feel ‘uncomfortable’ for his ‘cringe’ interaction with Ariana as he attempted to make her sing on the red carpet
She didn’t immediately join him to also sing the song and jokingly said that she was ‘still in OZ.’ Grande then applauded the red carpet host for his spontaneous performance.
He quickly cut in to say, ‘I’m going to be opening for Ariana who’s not going on tour by the way.’
‘Just let you know that, because I know the fans want you to go on tour, but it’s about acting,’ Marc added.
Social media users soon shared their thoughts on X over the interview, with one penning, ‘Marc Malkin is so cringe. Stop making everyone uncomfortable by making them sing #GoldenGlobes.’
‘Why is Marc Malkin so obnoxious?’ another added. ‘I’d flat out refuse to be interviewed by him if I was on the Golden Globes Red Carpet. Asking every person the same question and trying to force them to sing is tired.’
One shared, ‘Who TF is this interviewer, the most awkward, cringey, creepy dude you could find jeez!!! Cut away and don’t go back!’
Another wrote, ‘my timeline is hostile to marc malkin today,’ while on X user typed, ‘who tf is marc malkin and why is he the most annoying person I’ve ever seen.’
‘Get marc malkin off the screen,’ one fan penned, and another added, ‘I’m sure he’s a very nice man and his dinner parties are exquisite but I’m beginning to think we should stop letting marc malkin on red carpets.’
‘I want you to sing for me a little bit. I’ll sing with you,’ he told her as the star replied with a shy, ‘Oh my goodness, no!’
Social media users soon shared their thoughts on X over the interview, with one penning, ‘Marc Malkin is so cringe. Stop making everyone uncomfortable by making them sing #GoldenGlobes’
‘Why is Marc Malkin so obnoxious?’ another added. ‘I’d flat out refuse to be interviewed by him if I was on the Golden Globes Red Carpet’
One shared, ‘Who TF is this interviewer, the most awkward, cringey, creepy dude you could find jeez!!! Cut away and don’t go back!’
Another wrote, ‘my timeline is hostile to marc malkin today,’ while on X user typed, ‘who tf is marc malkin and why is he the most annoying person I’ve ever seen’
GOLDEN GLOBES 2025 WINNERS: AT A GLANCE
FILM
Best Film – Drama: The Brutalist
Best Film – Musical or Comedy: Emilia Pérez
Best Non-English Language Film: Emilia Pérez
Best Actress – Musical or Comedy: Demi Moore, The Substance
Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best Actor – Drama: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Actress – Drama: Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Cinematic And Box Office Achievement: Wicked
Best Actor – Musical or Comedy: Sebastian Stan, A Different Man
Best supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Emilia Perez led the way on the film side with four awards including Best Film – Musical or Comedy
During another portion of the interview, Marc and Ariana discussed the vintage 1966 Givenchy dress she chose to wear for the Golden Globes – and how it paid tribute to Wicked.
‘And it’s yellow because follow the yellow brick road. And it’s one of Glinda’s favorite colors,’ she explained of her character in the musical film adaptation of Wicked.
The songstress was notably nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Glinda.
In regards to who she wants to meet at the event, Grande answered, ‘I mean, it’s so exciting to be here because I’m such a fan of every single person that I bump into. I just saw Jodie Foster. That was insane.’
‘I met Ralph Fiennes. I’m such a fan of all of these artists so to be here is just the most unexpected, delightful surprise of my life and it’s so exciting. And everyone has been so kind.’
Wicked – which was released in theaters in November 2024 – was nominated for a total of four Golden Globes.
Ariana garnered a nod for Best Supporting Actress while her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, received a Best Actress nomination. The film won the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Inside the venue, Grande paused for additional photos to showcase her glamorous look for the evening, and was also pictured next to Erivo at a table.
During another portion of the interview, Marc and Ariana discussed the vintage 1966 Givenchy dress she chose to wear for the Golden Globes – and how it paid tribute to Wicked
In regards to both herself and Cynthia garnering nominations, Ariana told People last month in December, ‘We were just crying together and screaming, and we sent each other flowers immediately’
In regards to both herself and Cynthia garnering nominations, Ariana told People last month in December, ‘We were just crying together and screaming, and we sent each other flowers immediately.’
‘I’m just really deeply proud of her and of us together and the work that we’ve done. And to see it be recognized is just so – the weight is more than I could have imagined.’
She added, ‘You don’t expect something like that when you’re in it. You try to just the work and focus on the work, but I was so grateful to do the work every day, and that was the prize to me.’
‘But when it does happen, it’s really extraordinarily emotional and overwhelming,’ the star continued to the outlet.
Despite not garnering her first Golden Globe win, Grande did receive a special honor at the Palm Springs International Film Festival earlier this week on Friday.
Fellow actress Jennifer Coolidge presented Ariana with the Rising Star award during the event.
Before Grande took to the stage to accept the honor, Jennifer humorously questioned, ‘Hasn’t Ariana already risen?’
The songstress also quipped while accepting the award, ‘You don’t know how much it means to me.’
‘I’ve been performing since I was a child, so I never thought at the age of 31 I would be hearing the words “rising star” again, so I wanted to start by thanking my two friends: Botox and Juvederm.’
Ariana garnered a nod for Best Supporting Actress while her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, received a Best Actress nomination. The film won the award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
Despite not garnering her first Golden Globe win, Grande did receive a special honor at the Palm Springs International Film Festival earlier this week on Friday (seen above)
The former Nickelodeon star added, ‘I thought I’d be hearing “slightly withering star” or “drooping star” by now so thank you.’
Ariana additionally gave a special shout out to Coolidge as a ‘comedic genius whose brilliance has inspired my entire life.’
The beauty also sent her gratitude towards her co-star, Cynthia Erivo, and director Jon M. Chu during the special evening.
The second part of Wicked is slated to hit theaters later this fall on November 21, 2025.
GOLDEN GLOBES 2025 WINNERS
FILM
Best Film – Drama
The Brutalist – WINNER
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nickel Boys
September 5
Best Film – Musical or Comedy
Anora
Challengers
Emilia Pérez – WINNER
A Real Pain
The Substance
Wicked
Emilia Perez earned top honor Best Film – Musical or Comedy
Best Non-English Language Film
All We Imagine as Light
Emilia Pérez – WINNER
The Girl with the Needle
I’m Still Here
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Vermiglio
Best Animated Film
Flow – WINNER
Inside Out 2
Memoir of a Snail
Moana 2
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Cinematic And Box Office Achievement
Alien: Romulus
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Deadpool & Wolverine
Gladiator II
Inside Out 2
Twisters
Wicked – WINNER
The Wild Robot
Best Actress – Drama
Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl
Angelina Jolie, Maria
Nicole Kidman, Babygirl
Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here – WINNER
Kate Winslet, Lee
Best Actor – Drama
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist – WINNER
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Daniel Craig, Queer
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Adrien Brody was recognized in the Best Actor – Drama category for The Brutalist
Best Actress – Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, Nightbitch
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance – WINNER
Zendaya, Challengers
Best Actor – Musical or Comedy
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Hugh Grant, Heretic
Gabriel LaBelle, Saturday Night
Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness
Glen Powell, Hit Man
Sebastian Stan, A Different Man – WINNER
Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Margaret Qualley, The Substance
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez – WINNER
Zoe Saldana was crowned Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy for Emilia Perez
Best supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain – WINNER
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Denzel Washington, Gladiator II
Best director
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker, Anora
Edward Berger, Conclave
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist – WINNER
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light
Best screenplay
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Peter Straughan, Conclave – WINNER
Best Original Song
Beautiful That Way, The Last Showgirl
Compress/Repress, Challengers
El Mal, Emilia Pérez – WINNER
Forbidden Road, Better Man
Kiss The Sky, The Wild Robot
Mi Camino, Emilia Pérez
Best Original Film Score
Conclave
The Brutalist
The Wild Robot
Emilia Pérez
Challengers – WINNER
Dune: Part Two
TV
Best TV Series – Drama
The Diplomat
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Shōgun – WINNER
Squid Game
Slow Horses
The Day of the Jackal
Shōgun was the most honored television series with four including coveted Best TV Series – Drama
Best TV Series – Comedy or Musical
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
The Gentlemen
Hacks – WINNER
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
Best Limited TV Series
Baby Reindeer – WINNER
Disclaimer
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The Penguin
Ripley
True Detective: Night Country
Best TV Actress – Drama
Kathy Bates, Matlock
Emma D’Arcy, House of the Dragon
Maya Erskine, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Keira Knightley, Black Doves
Anna Sawai, Shōgun – WINNER
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Best TV Actor – Drama
Donald Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Eddie Redmayne, The Day of the Jackal
Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun – WINNER
Billy Bob Thornton, Landman (Paramount+)
Best TV Actress – Comedy or Musical
Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Kathryn Hahn, Agatha All Along
Jean Smart, Hacks – WINNER
Jean Smart earned Best TV Actress – Comedy or Musical for Hacks
Best TV Actor – Comedy or Musical
Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear – WINNER
Best TV Actress – Limited Series
Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country – WINNER
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Sofía Vergara, Griselda
Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Kate Winslet, The Regime
Best TV Actor – Limited Series
Colin Farrell, The Penguin – WINNER
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Kevin Kline, Disclaimer
Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow
Andrew Scott, Ripley
Best Supporting Actress – TV
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Dakota Fanning, Ripley
Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer – WINNER
Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
Jessica Gunning took home Best Supporting Actress – TV for her incredible work on Baby Reindeer
Best Supporting Actor – TV
Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun – WINNER
Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Diego Luna, La Maquina
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Best TV Stand-Up Comedy Performance
Jamie Foxx, What Had Happened Was
Nikki Glaser, Someday You’ll Die
Seth Meyers, Dad Man Walking
Adam Sandler, Love You
Ali Wong, Single Lady – WINNER
Ramy Youssef, More Feelings
Ali Wong beat out Nikki Glaser for Best TV Stand-Up Comedy Performance