Ego Nwodim Pokes Fun at Cher's Grammys Flub in Spirit Awards Monologue

The former 'SNL' star addressed 'heartbreaking times' in her hosting duties at the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Ego Nwodim, the former Saturday Night Live star, hosted the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards and poked fun at Cher's mistaken announcement of Luther Vandross as the winner of the Grammy for Record of the Year. Nwodim also addressed the 'incredibly heartbreaking times' in her monologue, praising the attendees for their dedication to the arts.

Why it matters

Nwodim's hosting duties and monologue at the Independent Spirit Awards provided a platform for the comedian to address serious issues while also injecting humor, particularly around Cher's high-profile Grammys flub. Her comments on the 'heartbreaking times' and the importance of the arts and empathy resonated with the audience.

The details

During her monologue, Nwodim noted the number of films nominated this year that take place over a single day, citing the Keke Palmer and SZA-starring 'One of Them Days.' She then joked about making her own movie called 'Ego Nwodim's Day' that would just feature her in a bubble bath listening to Luther Vandross. Nwodim also referenced Cher's Grammys mishap, where she mistakenly announced Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year instead of Kendrick Lamar and SZA. At the end of her monologue, Nwodim addressed the 'incredibly heartbreaking times' and praised the attendees for their dedication to the arts and for 'helping us understand who we are in the midst of chaos.'

  • The 2026 Independent Spirit Awards ceremony took place on Sunday.
  • At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Cher mistakenly announced Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year.

The players

Ego Nwodim

A former cast member of Saturday Night Live who hosted the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards.

Cher

A legendary singer who presented at the 2026 Grammy Awards and mistakenly announced Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year.

Kendrick Lamar

A Grammy-winning rapper whose song 'luther' was the actual winner of Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammys.

SZA

A Grammy-winning singer who collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on the song 'luther.'

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What they’re saying

“It may feel impossible to see the light right now, but I'm deeply grateful to all of you for helping us understand who we are in the midst of chaos.”

— Ego Nwodim (Independent Spirit Awards)

The takeaway

Ego Nwodim's hosting duties at the Independent Spirit Awards allowed her to balance humor and levity with thoughtful commentary on the 'heartbreaking times' and the importance of the arts and empathy. Her monologue resonated with the audience and highlighted her skills as a comedic performer and social commentator.