Public interest in awards shows has shifted from predicting winners to celebrity dining
Awards show meals are often surprisingly modest, sparking viral social media reactions
Many celebrities maintain strict diets and don't actually consume the served food
The fascination reflects broader societal interest in celebrity culture and class disparity
📖 Full Retelling
In his February 25, 2026 column for The New York Times, awards season columnist Kyle Buchanan (The Projectionist) observed that public interest has shifted from predicting award winners to obsessing over the food served at ceremonies like the Golden Globes, with social media users now demanding photos of celebrity meals rather than analysis of who might win. The trend began innocently when Buchanan started sharing photos of awards show meals at his mother's request, but these images have since gone viral, prompting him to be introduced as 'the guy chronicling the sad food they serve at awards shows.' At the Critics Choice Awards, a particularly sparse meal consisting mostly of grapes, crackers, and small wedges of cheese sparked widespread social media derision, with 'Abbott Elementary' star Janelle James joking in her acceptance speech that the ceremony would 'never feed us' and would always serve 'grapes and ice cream every year.' Several factors may explain this sudden fascination with celebrity dining habits. The stark contrast between the lavish lifestyles of A-listers and the often meager awards show meals creates a perverse pleasure for viewers amid growing class disparity. Additionally, many celebrities maintain strict diets and don't actually consume the food served, while others like Joaquin Phoenix have successfully negotiated special meal options. By the time of the Oscars, the food is so limited that host Jimmy Kimmel reportedly leaves boxed pretzels under guests' seats, with many celebrities rushing to indulge at after-parties or nearby restaurants once ceremonies conclude.
🏷️ Themes
Celebrity Culture, Food Culture, Social Media Influence
Social media are new media technologies that facilitate the creation, sharing and aggregation of content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongst virtual communities and networks. Common features include:
Online platforms enable users to create and share content and partici...
The Golden Globes are awards presented for excellence in international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists, professionals, and their work. The ceremony is normally held every January, and has been a major part of the film industry's awards season, whi...
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements, as assessed by the Academy's voti...
Skip to content Skip to site index The Projectionist What Do They Eat at Awards Shows (and Why Do We Care)? Interest has surged in what stars are served at shows like the Golden Globes. Does it matter what the rich eat, or do we just want to eat the rich? Credit... The New York Times Supported by SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Listen to this article · 5:13 min Learn more Share full article By Kyle Buchanan Feb. 25, 2026 In the rarefied world of Oscar predictions, I used to have a certain cachet. People came to me for insight into the great conundrums of our time: Could Michelle Yeoh beat Cate Blanchett? Should they even keep doing the ceremony after the score from “Challengers” was snubbed? I take my role as The Projectionist seriously — about as seriously as you can take anything that requires wearing a tuxedo during the day — and because of that commitment, I’ve spent years obsessing over the analysis my readers need to dominate their Oscar pools. But these days, all they want from me is food pics. Forget about “Who will win?” The question I’m now asked most about awards shows is, “What were they eating?” Sure, it’s notable that “One Battle After Another” triumphed with the Directors Guild , but how was the coq au vin? Are the odds better that the Producers Guild will choose “Sinners” this weekend, or that the show will double down on serving chicken potpies? This all started innocently enough. Years ago, when I first began attending awards shows, my mom always asked me to take pictures of the meals. Since I was already in the habit of live-tweeting, I added those pictures to my threads, and whether the dinners looked delicious or dismal, they became surefire conversation starters. My accidental foray into food journalism became especially pronounced this season, after the dinner photos started going so viral that the host of “The Town” podcast , Matt Belloni, introduced me as the guy chronicling “the sad food they serve at awards shows.” Now I can’t make it more than a few m...
