Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager Express Disappointment Over Jon M. Chu's Snub at Golden Globes

Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb recently voiced their disappointment regarding the 2025 Golden Globe nominations, particularly expressing their frustration over the absence of Wicked director Jon M. Chu from the list.

During the December 9 episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the co-hosts discussed the recently announced nominations. Kotb admitted they were both feeling “angry” about the situation and categorized it as an essential topic to address.

Kotb expressed their excitement over the nominations for stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, as well as the film itself being nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. However, she flagged that there was “one huge gap” in the nominations.

“We’re very disappointed about Jon Chu, who’s the director of Wicked,” Bush Hager stated, while Kotb referred to the film as “a masterpiece.”

Bush Hager elaborated that the work Chu put into making the film exceptional was overlooked, stating, “The amount of work he had to do to make that so incredible was not recognized.”

Kotb expressed her apology to Chu, supporting Bush Hager’s comments by emphasizing the visual appeal of Wicked and calling it a “visual masterpiece.”

Bush Hager further praised the film, noting, “Everybody said it was like going back to olden times in Hollywood,” highlighting the colorfulness and beauty Chu brought to the project.

Kotb, stating that making such a complex film was a challenging endeavor, remarked, “It took the best director” to achieve the result with Wicked. She said she was “surprised” that Chu did not receive a nomination but believed he would likely earn an Oscar nomination.

Following the announcement, although he wasn't nominated, Chu shared a video from the Golden Globes about Wicked’s nominations on social media along with clapping hands emojis to show his support.

In total, Wicked garnered four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture and nods for Grande and Erivo in acting categories. The film has seen significant success, earning $114 million in its opening weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters, making it the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation within just eight days of release.

The Golden Globe nominations this year saw other films like The Brutalist and Anora receive multiple nominations, signaling a competitive year in the film industry.

Hoda, Jenna, Chu